Chapter 3
Xu Jinnan had considered changing Shen Shu’s clothes before the doctor arrived, but decided against it.
Partly due to her own sexual orientation, but also because, with this identity, any such action felt like taking advantage.
She draped a clean jacket over Shen Shu just as the doctor arrived with several nurses.
The faces of the uniformed medical personnel changed slightly upon entering.
The faint lingering Alpha pheromones in the air were oppressive even to them as Betas. They dealt with Alphas of all ranks daily, but they’d never encountered such a potent scent before.
The lead doctor was specifically assigned to Xu Jinnan’s emergency care and was privy to her secrets. This pheromone couldn’t possibly be hers.
When he smelled the Alpha pheromones and saw the unconscious Omega on the sofa, he surmised what had transpired.
Xu Jinnan, the unruly Omega heiress masquerading as an Alpha, had committed such a disgraceful act on her wedding night.
Shocked by the audacity of it, he felt even more pity for the wonan on the sofa. North City’s renowned aloof goddess, reduced to this… It was truly lamentable.
He tactfully inquired, “Miss Xu, besides us, are there only the two of you present in this room?”
Xu Jinnan was puzzled: “Yes.”
Who else would there be?
The doctor nodded, refraining from further comment, and hurried over to examine Shen Shu. After a moment, he stood up and said, “Your wife’s condition appears to be a combination of her heat cycle and the influence of Alpha pheromones. She’s stable now, but I recommend a thorough hospital examination.”
Alpha pheromones? Because of the two men who barged in?
Without hesitation, Xu Jinnan accompanied them to the hospital.
While waiting in the corridor, a middle-aged man with glasses approached and politely addressed her. Xu Jinnan glanced at his ID badge and replied with a smile, “Professor Qin.”
Professor Qin stared at Xu Jinnan’s smile, momentarily surprised.
Then, glancing at the ward, he put on a kind expression: “Miss Xu, your wife’s examination will take a while. Your own monthly checkup has been postponed for a week now. Perhaps we could…”
Xu Jinnan readily agreed: “Alright, please.”
Professor Qin: “……?”
Please? To hear such polite words from Miss Xu… had she taken the wrong medication?
Xu Jinnan’s attention wasn’t on Professor Qin. She was thinking about how the first step to easing Shen Shu’s suspicion was revealing her Omega identity.
Words were meaningless. Wouldn’t a medical report be the best proof?
The examination and report took an hour and a half. As Xu Jinnan picked up a blood test report and prepared to leave, Professor Qin stopped her.
“Are you experiencing any discomfort?”
Xu Jinnan shook her head, then hesitated: “Here, it’s a little uncomfortable.”
She pointed to the area of her scent glands. Was there really something wrong with the original Xu Jinnan’s body?
Professor Qin looked at the report on his computer, his brow furrowing slightly. “All your Omega indicators are below standard, and you’re experiencing scent gland discomfort… As a precaution, I recommend you stay for observation.”
He watched Xu Jinnan’s reaction carefully as he spoke. Usually, she would refuse. But the report was indeed abnormal, and he couldn’t take any chances. If she refused, he would have to involve Mrs. Lu.
Unexpectedly, Xu Jinnan nodded: “Okay, please arrange it.”
Given Xu Jinnan’s unusual cooperation, Professor Qin, moved, offered a blessing as she left: “Miss Xu, I forgot to wish you a happy marriage.”
Xu Jinnan paused at the door and glanced back at him. Her wife ended up in the hospital on their wedding day. How could that be considered happy?
Professor Qin: “…” Right, that look was still the same old demon.
Shen Shu opened her eyes to white walls, sunlight streaming through the window, the smell of antiseptic, and familiar hushed voices.
She had finally recovered from her near-death experience, but the horrors of last night felt like they had just happened. She’d already felt unwell as she reached the door, wanting to turn back, but Xu Jinnan had dragged her inside.
She’d fled from the doorway to the bathroom, her clothes torn by Xu Jinnan…
Thinking about it, Shen Shu took a deep breath.
Now, looking back, everything from the simple wedding to the hangover candies at the end, even the choice of the secluded new house, had been meticulously calculated.
But why did Xu Jinnan let her go in the end? The moment she smelled the Alpha pheromones, she had braced herself for a forced marking, or worse.
“Shu Shu, you’re awake?! Are you feeling better? Is there anything else that’s bothering you?”
Footsteps approached, and Shen Shu turned to see Cai Ying hurrying in.
Shen Shu shook her head. Aside from her lingering weakness, she felt much better: “Why are you here?”
Cai Ying, a 19-year-old mixed-race Omega, had light curly hair and deep-set eyes. Despite her young age, she was the only person Shen Shu had connected with in North City these past two years.
“Xu Jinnan called me last night. I was terrified when she said you were in the hospital.” Cai Ying pursed her lips and asked, “What happened?”
“Xu Jinnan?” Shen Shu’s expression hardened. This wasn’t Xu Jinnan’s style, and her behavior yesterday had been completely out of character. “What did she say?”
Cai Ying adjusted the bed, poured a glass of warm water, and sat beside her. “She said… she might have taken the wrong medication.”
Cai Ying recalled Xu Jinnan from last night, unable to pinpoint what felt off. She glanced at Shen Shu’s pale face, now devoid of its earlier flush, her expression unreadable.
Her gaze fell to the collar of Shen Shu’s hospital gown, where the faint red marks hadn’t yet disappeared. She regretted asking the question. Last night, Xu Jinnan must have done something unforgivable to Shen Shu.
Cai Ying felt a pang of anger: “This is only your first day of marriage, and you’re already in the hospital. What about the future?!”
Shen Shu collected her thoughts, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
“I should have stopped you when you agreed to marry her! Look at how things were yesterday. Was that even a wedding? Mrs. Lu only showed her face briefly, no one else even bothered to appear. It was pure humiliation! Shu Shu, if things get any worse, we have to find a way to get you a divorce.”
“It’s no use.”
Sometimes, Shen Shu thought that perhaps it was Cai Ying’s childlike nature, her simple cheerfulness, that she found so comforting.
But this matter was far from simple.
Xu Jinnan hadn’t married her out of love. Could she just get a divorce whenever she wanted? Of course not.
Xu Jinnan had resorted to such extreme measures to force her into this marriage. How could she possibly escape so easily?
At least, not now.
Xu Jinnan wouldn’t let her go.
Shen Shu’s thoughts suddenly became clear. If Xu Jinnan wasn’t going to let her go easily, she wouldn’t have changed overnight. This was a slow boil, like a frog in gradually heating water.
Her slender fingers gripped the white sheet. The thought of spending countless days with this devil sent a chill down her spine.
“Shu Shu, are you alright?”
Cai Ying squeezed her hand. “Your hands are so cold.”
Shen Shu was covered in a cold sweat: “Could you find me some clean clothes? I want to take a shower.”
Cai Ying had just left the room when the door opened again. Shen Shu, sitting on the bed with her back to the door, turned at the sound, standing up warily: “Who are you?”
A male Alpha with dyed blonde hair closed the door behind him and grinned at Shen Shu. “Don’t be scared, sister-in-law. We’re all on the same side. We almost met last night.”
Xu Jinnan stayed in the hospital overnight without any further discomfort. The follow-up tests still showed low levels, but nothing else was found.
She also received a call from Lu Yun, the original Xu Jinnan’s mother. After much persuasion, she managed to convince her mother that it was just a routine checkup and dissuaded her from rushing over. She hadn’t fully adjusted to this world yet, and she needed to figure out how to deal with the people in the original Xu Jinnan’s life.
But Mrs. Lu doted on her daughter. Though she stayed home, she didn’t rest, sending enough food and drinks to fill the ward overnight.
Xu Jinnan couldn’t stand staying there any longer.
After walking around outside, Shen Shu’s image inexplicably surfaced in her mind. Professor Qin had said Shen Shu was fine and could be discharged in a couple of days.
For some reason, Xu Jinnan suddenly felt the urge to visit her.
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