Chapter 73
She couldn’t remember how she had managed to drive everyone else out. Zhuang Chi only knew that when she came to her senses, there were no other Alphas in the room, and she was pressing her back against the closed door.
The pounding in her chest was deafening. She could faintly hear the voices of Ling Jing and the others outside the door. It was chaotic and hard to make out clearly. Someone was knocking. The more she listened, the more agitated she became. It took her a moment to realize what was happening.
…After Gu Ximian had said those words, she had jumped out of bed and, without another word, had driven all the other Alphas out of the room.
“…Wait a moment,” Zhuang Chi turned her head and said to the people outside, through the door. “I’ll have Gu Ximian put on her pheromone blocking collar, and then I’ll let her out.”
She didn’t know if the people outside had heard her clearly, but in any case, the commotion outside quieted down a little. Zhuang Chi was still shaken from the scene she had just witnessed, and things were far from settled. She breathed as shallowly as possible and turned to look inside the room.
The instigator of this chaos had, at some point, sat down on the edge of her bed. Gu Ximian’s posture was proper as she leisurely toyed with that fatal black choker in her hand.
Zhuang Chi glanced a few times and didn’t dare to look anymore. She lowered her eyes awkwardly, her back pressed tightly against the door, and said, “…Gu Ximian, you… you should hurry up and put it on.”
Gu Ximian’s hands stopped moving. She glanced up at her but showed no intention of doing as she was told.
“I don’t want to wear it.” Zhuang Chi heard her say this, her voice cool and her tone serious, but the content was utterly unreasonable. “If you want me to wear it, you have to come over and help me put it on.”
…She was simply being difficult. Zhuang Chi felt it was hard to breathe. To make matters worse, her own pheromones were now mixed with Gu Ximian’s scent. She was in a dilemma, feeling that any move would be an offense. Her hands, clenched tightly behind her back, dug into her palms, using the pain to maintain her precarious clarity.
She didn’t move, and neither did Gu Ximian, who just continued to sit there, fiddling with the choker as if bored. But their pheromones wouldn’t wait for them; they kept mingling. Even with Zhuang Chi’s currently muddled mind, she quickly realized that this stalemate was not a solution.
Seeing that Gu Ximian truly had no intention of putting on the blocking collar herself, Zhuang Chi squeezed her eyes shut, steeled herself, held her breath, and walked towards Gu Ximian. She didn’t know why Gu Ximian wanted her to do it, but she felt that Gu Ximian must have her reasons and wouldn’t be tricking her. So, with her mind set on getting it over with quickly, she was completely unprepared for what happened next. When she was just a step away from Gu Ximian, Gu Ximian suddenly tossed the blocking collar aside, throwing it into some unknown corner of the room.
Zhuang Chi was stunned. She subconsciously started to follow the collar’s trajectory, but first felt a weight on her hand as Gu Ximian grabbed her wrist.
“I finally caught you.”
She said this with a deep smile.
Zhuang Chi, who had been tricked, was visibly anxious. Her body was tense, looking like she wanted to shake off her hand but was worried about hurting her. Her darting eyes were filled with unease, which made Gu Ximian want to laugh.
“Sit down first.”
She said, patting the spot beside her. Not only did Zhuang Chi not dare to sit, but she also took a step back, shaking her head forcefully in silence. For some reason, Zhuang Chi had been able to speak properly from a distance, but now that she was close, she seemed to have lost her ability to speak. Her actions, however, clearly showed her intention to find the choker. Gu Ximian raised an eyebrow slightly, deliberately shaking the hand that held Zhuang Chi’s, and said softly, “It’s a bit tiring to hold my hand up like this.”
As the saying goes, all’s fair in war, but Gu Ximian felt it depended on the target. She looked at Zhuang Chi, who, after a long hesitation, slowly sat down beside her. She thought that there was probably only one person in the world like Zhuang Chi, who would continue to trust her right after being deceived.
“Do you feel a little better?” Deciding to get straight to the point, Gu Ximian looked at Zhuang Chi, her gaze falling on her slightly swollen gland. “I mean, after smelling my pheromones.”
“…”
Zhuang Chi didn’t answer quickly. She blinked restlessly. After a long moment, she finally spoke, though not to answer her question: “…Gu Ximian, let me go first. We have to get your blocking collar back…”
Changing the subject, Gu Ximian thought. So her pheromones were effective.
Of course, she wouldn’t let go of Zhuang Chi’s hand. Instead, she changed the subject. “What did you say to the people outside just now?”
Zhuang Chi wrinkled her nose, seeming to subconsciously take a shallow sniff, and answered in a small voice, “I told them to wait, that you’d go out after you put on your blocking collar.”
It was about what she had guessed. Gu Ximian chuckled. “I’m not going out.”
“If you don’t plan on using violence to get me out, why not ask the people outside to get me two Omega inhibitors?” Gu Ximian said lightly, explaining, “Otherwise, if I’m also induced into a susceptible period… that situation would be even worse than this one, right?”
Her intention was to shift Zhuang Chi’s attention so she would stop dwelling on the issue of her staying. But Zhuang Chi seemed to grow more and more worried as she listened, murmuring, “If you leave, you won’t need inhibitors. The doctor said taking too many inhibitors is bad for your health…”
To be concerned about that at a time like this. Gu Ximian sighed silently. She simply raised her hand, straightened Zhuang Chi’s head to meet her terrified eyes, and said, word by word, “I’m not leaving.”
“What do you think I came here for?” Gu Ximian looked directly at Zhuang Chi, her voice soft. “My pheromones are useful to you, right?”
Perhaps because she was too close, Gu Ximian saw a layer of mist quickly well up in Zhuang Chi’s eyes. Looking like this, the susceptible Alpha seemed even softer than usual. The corners of her eyes were red, and as she blinked, tears were about to fall. Her words were choked with sobs, “I don’t know. I really want to be closer to you, but… but Gu Ximian, I’m an Alpha. I’m dangerous to you. I don’t know what I…”
Gu Ximian looked at her, and in a daze, she suddenly recalled the dim sports warehouse.
“…” The clean, bitter fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose. Gu Ximian moved a little closer to Zhuang Chi and said softly, “Then will you do anything to me?”
It was the same question as that day, and Zhuang Chi whimpered, shaking her head forcefully. Her words were also identical to that day: “…I won’t do… anything that would hurt you.”
A susceptible Alpha—such words couldn’t really be trusted, Gu Ximian thought. But Zhuang Chi was different.
Unique, gentler than anyone else, her Alpha.
“…Come here, you can be a little closer to me.”
Gu Ximian said softly, pulling the still-resisting Zhuang Chi a little closer. She raised her hands to cup her face, her fingertips brushing away the tears that seeped from the corners of her eyes, as hot as the afterglow of a sunset.
“You can’t mark me.” Looking into those wet eyes, Gu Ximian said seriously, “Can you do that?”
Zhuang Chi nodded heavily without hesitation. Her body was stiff and unmoving, only her hot cheeks unconsciously nuzzled against Gu Ximian’s palm. Her misty eyes still stared at her obediently. Gu Ximian realized Zhuang Chi was waiting for her to say what else she couldn’t do. She thought for a moment, blinked uncomfortably, and said softly, “…And you can’t touch strange places.”
She said it shyly, but the listener didn’t understand. Zhuang Chi hummed in confusion, agreeing before asking, “What are strange places?”
“…” Just simulating how to answer in her mind made her face burn. Gu Ximian turned her head away and said concisely, “…The places on your own body you wouldn’t want me to touch.”
Zhuang Chi frowned slightly, seemingly contemplating which parts of herself she wouldn’t want Gu Ximian to touch. Not wanting to dwell on this topic, Gu Ximian moved a little closer to Zhuang Chi, intentionally releasing more of her pheromones. As expected, she saw Zhuang Chi’s pupils shrink. Zhuang Chi looked at her, at a loss, and was about to lean back reflexively, but Gu Ximian, who was prepared, held her in place.
“…The first susceptible period lasts about two to three days.” Gu Ximian reached out to soothingly stroke the back of Zhuang Chi’s head, saying softly, “You’ll get used to my pheromones soon.”
She had finally reached this step on a wave of impulse, but actually doing it was harder than she had imagined.
First was the issue of location. Gu Ximian had been sitting on the edge of the bed—naturally assuming it should happen on the bed. But the usually obedient Zhuang Chi suddenly had a moment of clarity, her face flushing beet red as she insisted that Gu Ximian get off the bed. Gu Ximian also sensed that this location was not quite right, so in the end, the two of them had to sit on the sofa together.
…It wasn’t as if they were going to do anything strange. Only now did she start to feel awkward. Gu Ximian secretly glanced at Zhuang Chi, who was sitting ramrod straight beside her, and felt the atmosphere was exceptionally bizarre.
Although just releasing and mingling their pheromones to soothe each other had some effect, but…
Gu Ximian sighed silently, then suddenly stood up. Under Zhuang Chi’s helpless gaze, she turned and sat on Zhuang Chi’s lap.
“…I learned this in the Omega course before,” Gu Ximian said in a small voice, deliberately avoiding Zhuang Chi’s gaze. “This is… a very scientific method of contact.”
It was just that she hadn’t paid much attention back then. She only remembered that physical contact was better for soothing a susceptible Alpha, but she couldn’t recall the specific method. Gu Ximian looked at Zhuang Chi, who hadn’t dared to take a breath since she sat down, and felt how stiff the other person was. She made a preemptive strike, as if to cover up her own awkwardness, “What’s wrong, can’t I sit on your lap? Am I crushing you?”
How could Zhuang Chi say that? She quickly shook her head and said softly, “…No, you’re very light.”
It was unclear whether her pheromones were highly effective or if the initial heat had already passed, but Zhuang Chi seemed to have more composure now. However, with a little observation, Gu Ximian could see that Zhuang Chi’s eyes were fixed on her, a haze in their depths with surging emotions hidden beneath. And although her back was straight and her hands were properly by her sides, she was subconsciously gripping the sofa fabric tightly, as if trying hard to endure something.
Gu Ximian waited for a long time but saw no movement. In the end, she couldn’t wait any longer. She leaned in and asked Zhuang Chi, “What are you thinking about right now?”
Zhuang Chi was startled by her proximity and leaned back subconsciously. Gu Ximian’s sharp eyes noticed Zhuang Chi’s throat bob slightly, and then she looked at her, seeming to want to say something but hesitating. The shyness in Gu Ximian’s heart kept rising. She reached out to poke Zhuang Chi’s face and commanded, “Hurry up and say it. What are you thinking about?”
Because of their posture, she was now almost half-pressed into Zhuang Chi’s embrace. Zhuang Chi’s face was hot and soft, and she good-naturedly let her poke it, then answered very softly, “…I want to hug you.”
She really was very obedient, perhaps even more so than usual, answering questions frankly. Gu Ximian’s hand froze. She slowly withdrew it and said unnaturally in a low voice, “Then… hug me.”
The Alpha was also very well-behaved. After getting permission, she raised her hands. Her movements were slow and hesitant. Just as Gu Ximian’s patience was about to run out, she finally wrapped her arms snugly around her waist.
Now she was truly being held in an embrace. Gu Ximian bit her lip lightly, trying hard to ignore the heat from her lower back, and asked with feigned composure, “What else do you want to do?”
Zhuang Chi’s gaze was heavy with moisture. She looked at Gu Ximian apprehensively. Due to their posture, Gu Ximian was now slightly taller than her. If her gaze wandered, it would land on the other’s snowy white neck. Fortunately, Gu Ximian was wearing a shirt today, buttoned up tightly, otherwise, she might have seen an even more ambiguous sight.
Noticing Zhuang Chi’s gaze and seeing her remain silent for a long time, Gu Ximian understood. She thought that she had never heard of an Alpha being so polite when an Omega was already in their arms. Piqued, she reached out, lifted a strand of her own hair, and impolitely brushed it across the tip of Zhuang Chi’s nose.
Seeing Zhuang Chi wrinkle her nose from the tickle and look over with a bewildered expression, Gu Ximian hummed softly, “Didn’t you want to smell it?”
Zhuang Chi’s gaze immediately darted away. Fortunately, Gu Ximian was also shy, so she let her off lightly this time, only silently pulling her into the crook of her neck.
“…Don’t bite.”
After this simple instruction, Gu Ximian felt her face was too hot to speak. Zhuang Chi froze for a long while, probably after the inner battle in her mind finally ended. Gu Ximian felt her approach, the tip of her nose hesitantly touching the side of her neck.
Zhuang Chi’s movements were very careful, her breathing cautious. She seemed afraid to take a deep breath, sniffing very lightly. Her breath on Gu Ximian’s skin brought an indescribable shiver. She subconsciously tightened her hand on Zhuang Chi’s shoulder. This small movement startled the Alpha. Zhuang Chi almost immediately lifted her head, looking at her uneasily, her eyes even mistier than before, as if silently confirming if she had done something wrong.
Gu Ximian looked at her for a long time, then suddenly laughed.
“…Speaking of which, you still haven’t answered me,” she said softly. “Are my pheromones useful for your susceptible period?”
This was basically asking the obvious. As expected, Gu Ximian saw Zhuang Chi’s eyes drop. After a long struggle, she answered in a low voice, “They’re useful. You smell very good. Holding you like this, I feel… very at ease. It’s not as uncomfortable as before.”
It was the answer Gu Ximian wanted. She curled her lips slightly, but then she remembered what Olivia had said before.
‘She seems to really have pheromone addiction.’
…There’s a possibility of misdiagnosis, right? Gu Ximian thought. Even if inhibitors don’t work on Zhuang Chi, it might not necessarily be an addiction problem. Isn’t she reacting well to my pheromones now? Or is it because I’m an S-class Omega, so that’s why…
Her mind was a bit of a mess, but she couldn’t help but wonder. Zhuang Chi was so careful and gentle with her, so when she was with the Omega she was addicted to, would she be even gentler than she was with her?
Gu Ximian couldn’t smile anymore. The smile on her lips disappeared in less than three seconds. Even the currently slow-reacting Zhuang Chi noticed something was wrong and looked at her, at a loss. “…Should I not have said that? Did I make you unhappy?”
Pheromones faithfully reflect their owner’s emotions. Gu Ximian didn’t know if Zhuang Chi had smelled her displeasure from her pheromones. She knew that if that were the case, acting would be useless. She also knew this nameless anger shouldn’t be directed at Zhuang Chi. In the end, she just cupped Zhuang Chi’s face, lowered her head to look at her intently, at those docile, moist eyes.
“Aren’t my pheromones your favorite scent?”
Gu Ximian said softly, the emotions surging in her heart dark and viscous, an indescribable sourness driving her to press closer to Zhuang Chi. But she still felt it wasn’t enough, she was unhappy, and unconsciously murmured.
“…How could you be addicted to someone else’s pheromones.”
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