Category: Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss

Chapter 46: Licking Greedily

This was the first time Zhu Yiqiao, always highly self-disciplined and in control, felt herself deviating from her usual course, on the verge of losing control.

In her past life, every heat cycle after her differentiation had been overcome through suppressants, pheromone bracelets, and an endurance so strong it could be described as terrifying.

She didn’t even need rest and could execute assassination missions immediately after a heat cycle ended.

Therefore, during her years at the Ole Empire’s Southern Military Academy, she had never revealed her hidden omega identity, and the other alphas and betas had never suspected that she was a disguised alpha.

However—

At this moment, she wasn’t controlling the overflow of her pheromones.

She even let her own pheromones envelop the pear scent, until everything else was suppressed, until the flesh of that snow-white, sweet pear was filled with the heavy woody fragrance.

But the person stepping into the trap was completely unaware of all this, and as if not sensing any danger, approached Zhu Yiqiao proactively and asked with good intentions,

“Then… Jiejie, do you need me to provide a reverse temporary marking?”

Hearing this, countless possibilities flashed through Zhu Yiqiao’s mind. She stared at the person in front of her, her aura as a superior fully revealed.

“Why?” she asked.

For Ming Fei, asking this question proactively had already made her feel embarrassed. After all, such a question, in normal social interactions, was considered too intimate.

But Zhu Yiqiao had actively helped her so many times.

She couldn’t remain indifferent, let alone turn around and leave, completely detaching herself from the situation.

The main lights in the corridor had been turned off at ten o’clock, and the wall lamp leading to the master bedroom emitted a dim light, adding a touch of ambiguity to the atmosphere.

Ming Fei stood by the wall lamp, her long black hair cascading down her shoulders. The white home clothes made her look very gentle, like a quiet spring night after the late winter, her slightly trembling eyelashes like butterflies in a spring night garden.

The butterfly gently flapped its wings, yet it caused ripples and waves in Zhu Yiqiao’s deep blue eyes.

Ming Fei explained, “Because I’m guessing your current pheromone situation is due to the premonition of a heat cycle. If a reverse temporary marking works, and you’re not against it, I would like to help you.”

Perhaps because the atmosphere was too strange, or perhaps because she sensed a hint of danger, her address changed from the more intimate “Jiejie” back to the distant and unfamiliar “nin” (you).

The towering cedar and fir trees reached out with their branches and leaves to touch the small pear blossoms, the elegant woody fragrance becoming richer, all signs that her pheromones were expressing dissatisfaction.

Zhu Yiqiao asked indifferently, “Nin?”

Ming Fei softly called her: “…Jiejie.”

Her voice was as soft as the tender leaves sprouting in spring. These tender leaves brushed away the snow from the cedar and fir trees, making them joyful and happy.

After Zhu Yiqiao responded, the pheromone concentration in the air decreased slightly.

Ming Fei repeated her question for the third time: “Jiejie, do you need me to provide a reverse temporary marking?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the pheromone concentration, which had just decreased, suddenly surged, as if reason and desire were in a constant tug-of-war. But after a while, the pheromone concentration decreased again.

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t answer whether she needed it or not, turning and walking into the master bedroom.

Ming Fei was a little confused.

She felt that her judgment shouldn’t be wrong. Both Zhu Yiqiao’s unusual behavior and the woody pheromone scent she sensed were indicating the same premonition of a heat cycle.

But… Zhu Yiqiao seemed to have declined her help.

Ming Fei felt a little embarrassed, for her proactiveness, and for her presumptuous offer, knowing she shouldn’t have made it, because the contract clearly stated—Party B is prohibited from any transgressive behavior.

But worry still outweighed hesitation.

She didn’t linger foolishly, quickly following Zhu Yiqiao into the master bedroom.

And the moment she stepped into the master bedroom, she found that the woody scent that had been surging in the air moments ago instantly receded like a tide, without even leaving a trace.

Ming Fei was surprised, because this required very strong control and self-discipline, and she still hadn’t learned how to control her pheromones, even… needing Zhu Yiqiao’s help with pheromone guidance.

The gap between them made Ming Fei feel a little ashamed.

She lowered her head and pursed her lips, approaching Zhu Yiqiao on the sofa, stopping three steps away.

“Jiejie,” she asked, “are you alright?”

Zhu Yiqiao was silent for a moment: “Mm.”

Ming Fei suggested, “Tonight isn’t a good time for pheromone guidance. Why don’t you rest first, Jiejie?”

Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Why isn’t it a good time?”

Ming Fei looked at her, her eyes as clear as a spring in a secluded valley.

“…Because Jiejie’s pre-heat symptoms might make you uncomfortable.”

Zhu Yiqiao: “It’s not that.”

Ming Fei blinked: “It’s not a premonition of a heat cycle?”

“Mm.”

Ming Fei was a little puzzled: “Can I ask what it is?”

Zhu Yiqiao changed the subject: “Do you want to know?”

Ming Fei was even more confused.

She thought, shouldn’t the question be whether she could know?

Why did it become whether she wanted to know?

This question, like a kitten suddenly scratching her, piqued Ming Fei’s curiosity.

She asked, “Does it involve personal privacy?”

Zhu Yiqiao looked at her: “Not really.”

“Mm.” Ming Fei admitted honestly, “Then I want to know. Don’t worry, Jiejie, even if I know the specific reason, I won’t tell anyone. I just want to help you in any way I can.”

Without any warning, Zhu Yiqiao said straightforwardly,

“Because my pheromones like your pheromones very much.”

“It’s never happened before, only with you.”

The light in the master bedroom was bright, clearly illuminating Ming Fei’s reaction after hearing these words. Her ears turned red, like a rabbit’s red lanterns, and her fingers curled slightly.

Translated into the language of the Ole Empire, this expression meant—

[I like you.]

[I want to be your partner.]

[I hope to have you forever.]

Although Ming Fei knew that Zhu Yiqiao definitely didn’t mean it that way, and she definitely wouldn’t overthink it, she still felt shy because of this sudden directness.

She tried to remain calm: “I remember the book saying that alpha and alpha pheromones are usually mutually repulsive.”

Zhu Yiqiao said calmly, “Mm.”

“That’s why I said, only with you.”

In fact, for Zhu Yiqiao, whether it was omegas or alphas with the same or opposite differentiation attributes, none of their pheromones had ever caused such a fluctuation in her own.

Previously, in the Omega Noble Academy, she had also sensed the pheromones of other omegas. Just like alphas would use pheromones to fight on a second battlefield, many omegas would also use their pheromones to compete.

At that time, after sensing the pheromones of other omegas, she hadn’t felt anything, and her pheromones clearly expressed boredom and dislike. This feeling intensified at the Southern Military Academy when facing alphas, directly turning from dislike to disgust.

But it was different with Ming Fei.

She knew better than anyone how much her pheromones liked Ming Fei’s. Every time their pheromones collided, she could clearly sense the signal her own pheromones were sending.

—Like.

—Like very much.

—Want to devour.

She had never felt this way before Ming Fei.

Because it was already very late, Zhu Yiqiao didn’t delve deeper into it at this moment, didn’t dwell on the strange and irritating feeling she had felt when watching Ming Fei and Xue Xun trimming flower branches tonight, didn’t explore the root cause of her pheromones’ unusual reaction.

She prioritized the most important matter, putting aside these personal reactions, and expressionlessly asked Ming Fei to sit next to her, ready to begin pheromone guidance.

The distance of a few steps disappeared. Ming Fei sat to Zhu Yiqiao’s right and suddenly blurted out,

“That’s good.”

Zhu Yiqiao: “What?”

Ming Fei, the tips of her ears red, smiled: “Jiejie doesn’t reject my pheromones, which means that when we did the reverse temporary marking, and now for the pheromone guidance, Jiejie really doesn’t feel uncomfortable.”

“I was always worried that Jiejie, in order to help me with my condition, would hide your true feelings, and even if you felt uncomfortable, you would continue to hide it from me. Now that I know you don’t reject it, I feel much better.”

Ming Fei continued, “And, if Jiejie needs my pheromone help in the future, I will also do my best to assist you.”

Zhu Yiqiao: “Is that so?”

Ming Fei wasn’t sure what this “Is that so?” was specifically asking. Was it asking if she really felt that way? Or was it asking if she would really do her best to help when needed?

She simply replied without hesitation: “Of course.”

Outside the window, the night deepened, the chill permeated the air, and the world was covered in snow.

After Ming Fei’s voice faded, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes. Because it was so faint, even she herself didn’t catch this change in emotion.

She didn’t continue the topic, skipping the answer and directly proceeding with the crucial pheromone guidance.

“Remove the suppressor patch and the bracelet.”

Ming Fei: “Okay.”

After completing the preparations according to Zhu Yiqiao’s instructions, Ming Fei actively released her pheromones and looked at the person beside her with a hint of nervousness.

But Zhu Yiqiao didn’t release her woody scent again as she had expected. Instead, she suddenly took Ming Fei’s hand.

Their hands clasped together, and Ming Fei was stunned for a moment, her pheromones surging out as if encouraged.

“This is to stimulate a differentiated individual. This method can also stimulate pheromone release.” Zhu Yiqiao explained, “If this stimulation fails, then we will directly stimulate the gland.”

While coaxing Ming Zaozao to sleep, Ming Fei had been warmed by the little warm furnace that was Ming Zaozao. But after standing in the corridor for a while, the warmth had faded, and she had become cold again.

And Zhu Yiqiao’s hand was soft, warm, and slender, like a warm spring enveloping her completely.

Ming Fei hummed in response: “What else do I need to do?”

The next moment—

Zhu Yiqiao released her pheromones again, not overwhelmingly, aggressively, or invasively, but gently, like a dragonfly skimming the water, gradually intertwining with the pear scent.

“Feel it,” she said. “Increase when I increase, decrease when I decrease.”

Ming Fei was obedient and intelligent.

With Zhu Yiqiao’s guidance, she quickly grasped the skill of controlling her pheromones. They cooperated tacitly, like long-time partners fighting side by side on the battlefield.

At first, Ming Fei’s pheromones still carried a hint of sourness, like unripe pears. Soon, the increasingly sweet pear scent swirled around, like a raccoon cat rolling in the snow, sometimes lingering under the cedar trees, sometimes circling the fir trees.

As their pheromones intertwined for longer and longer, the snow pears that covered the ground emitted a completely sweet pear fragrance, and the situation reversed.

The rolling raccoon cat became the increasingly elegant woody scent.

It was as if it had truly arrived at the One Raccoon Hill that the differentiated individual longed for. Facing the pears covering the mountain, it happily raised its tail, first circling the ripening pears, then reaching out a paw to touch them, sometimes even possessively circling them with its tail.

Even licking them greedily.

In the silence, Ming Fei sensed the change in her own pheromones, and she looked sideways at Zhu Yiqiao.

“Jiejie.”

“Mm?”

Half an hour had passed. Judging from the state of her pheromones, Ming Fei felt that it was enough for now.

She asked, “Is that enough for tonight?”

“Mm.”

Zhu Yiqiao stopped and released Ming Fei’s left hand.

As Ming Fei withdrew her hand, she also gradually retracted her overflowing pheromones.

However, as she withdrew the last traces of her pheromones, she sensed a reluctance from Zhu Yiqiao.

To be precise, it was a reluctance from Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones.

She thought, not only did Chief Judge Zhu like to eat pears, but her pheromones also liked… pears very much.

So much so that they actively expressed reluctance.

In addition, during the pheromone guidance, she had actually noticed something strange about Zhu Yiqiao’s condition, although the answer she had received earlier wasn’t a premonition of a heat cycle.

But Ming Fei’s limited knowledge of differentiation still led her to think about heat cycles.

Of course—

All of this was based on the premise that Zhu Yiqiao was an alpha. If she knew Zhu Yiqiao’s true identity at this moment, she would completely understand the reason for this abnormality.

Because not only did alphas have pre-heat symptoms, but omegas also had pre-heat symptoms before their heat cycles, and these symptoms were particularly evident in their pheromones.

But under the current circumstances, Ming Fei had no way of thinking about these things.

And because Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromone reluctance was so strong, Ming Fei couldn’t help but wonder—

What should she do?

Chapter 45: “Then… Jiejie, Do You Need Me to Provide a Temporary Mark?”

The study on the third floor was brightly lit until ten o’clock at night.

Zhu Yiqiao sat in the study chair. Two hours ago, she had been wearing home clothes, but now she had changed into a fitted white shirt and was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses she rarely wore.

Her shirt sleeves covered her fair wrists, and the pheromone bracelet she usually wore was placed beside her.

She looked at the floating screen in front of her, listening expressionlessly to Secretary-General Wei Lingyu’s report. The other senior officials of the Trial Court on the screen sat upright and meticulously, all wearing the uniform of the Trial Court.

“After investigation and review, the Trial Court’s enforcement department, in conjunction with the Sisi National Police Department, conducted a thorough investigation of twenty-six individuals who had long-term contact with Bai He. During the investigation, Ms. Tong Jia, who had the closest contact with Bai He, admitted that the business dealings she maintained with Bai He were actually a cover for regularly supplying a mysterious organization in Moli.”

Wei Lingyu paused: “Their supply was genetic samples stolen from various countries, mainly Silla.”

Lan Lubai’s expression darkened, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Is this organization just a gene theft group?”

Wei Lingyu reminded her, “Not exactly, Executive Lan, please patiently listen to the full report before speaking.”

“When the intelligence department investigated the latest movements of the Kail family in Moli, they discovered that Ms. Xi Shan of the Kail family had contact with this organization. Through tracing and investigation, Ms. Tong Jia and Ms. Xi Shan confessed that they had been working for this organization for seven years. Meanwhile, Bai He, who was escorted back to the Silla court yesterday, will be executed on the fifth of next month, according to a joint discussion between high-ranking officials from various countries.”

Wei Lingyu said, “This concludes the report. Now, please look at the picture on the public screen.”

Zhu Yiqiao’s fingertips moved slightly, ripples appearing in her eyes.

“According to Tong Jia and Xi Shan’s testimonies, this mysterious organization doesn’t have a fixed base or fixed contact method, and even the contact person for each transaction changes. During the subsequent investigation, the two criminals only drew the organization’s totem symbol.”

And the picture on the floating public screen was the totem symbol of the mysterious organization, also the ancient creature identified by Ming Fei in the ancient book—W1215304.

Zhu Yiqiao asked coldly, “Tong Jia and Xi Shan’s roles in this organization are different from Bai He’s. What do they want to gain?”

Min Man was also puzzled: “To become the so-called first batch of new humans?”

“Initially, when faced with the investigation, Tong Jia did lie and claim that she wanted to evolve into a so-called new human. Later, when investigating clues from other countries, the investigation department discovered that Tong Jia had a genetically cultivated child, and her child had contracted an incurable disease three years ago.” Wei Lingyu explained, “After gradually breaking through her psychological defenses, she confessed that she wanted her child to become a new human.”

“Because this organization claimed that perfect new humans are, to a certain extent, immortal.”

If it weren’t for the ongoing meeting, Lan Lubai would have wanted to ask how these people’s minds worked. She only felt it was absurd and ridiculous.

The other senior officials on the floating screen had different expressions, wanting to speak but hesitating, their gazes turning to Chief Judge Zhu, the highest authority of the Trial Court.

Zhu Yiqiao issued the first order.

“Synchronize this information with the military department and have them deploy teams to cooperate with the investigation department’s work in Moli.”

Wei Lingyu replied, “Yes.”

She seemed to hesitate for a moment: “During the investigation, Xi Shan inadvertently mentioned the words ‘special abilities.’ When the interrogator followed up with questions, she refused to admit it, saying that she had misspoken in a moment of confusion. And according to the investigation data, Xi Shan does have a history of anxiety.”

Zhu Yiqiao’s tapping finger paused, her eyes narrowing.

…

After the nearly hour-long internal meeting, Lan Lubai initiated a video call in their private group chat.

Because they all knew about the existence of transmigrators in this world, when they heard Wei Lingyu mention “special abilities,” Lan Lubai’s first thought was Xue Xun, who came from a post-apocalyptic world.

She wondered, “Yiqiao, do you think the ‘special abilities’ this organization refers to are similar to Xue Xun’s abilities?”

Zhu Yiqiao said, “Xue Xun has been to every country on the map after transmigrating, and she uses her ability to confirm whether there are other transmigrators from the apocalypse in each country. So far, there hasn’t been a second ability user from the apocalypse in any country.”

Min Man was also wearing glasses before the meeting. When she took off her soft brown-rimmed glasses, her amber eyes were like an eagle soaring in the sky.

She said, “Perhaps this so-called organization, the research institute behind the scenes, isn’t from the apocalypse, but wants to give people in the new calendar era abilities similar to those in the apocalypse, just like the… Yagbort experiment in the old calendar era.”

In the last century, a mad scientist had secretly conducted human experiments on abilities. The scientist believed that when humans were under extreme pressure, they would undergo various physiological changes and develop abilities beyond scientific explanation.

The research methods of this experiment were very cruel, and once exposed by the media, it quickly aroused public outrage. People around the world demanded that the government immediately intervene, investigate, and conduct an official trial.

Thirty-six hours after the media exposé, the scientist and their team were stripped of all their property and political rights and sentenced to death.

In the bedroom on the second floor, Ming Zaozao was sleeping with Ming Fei tonight as well.

When she slept alone, she would toss and turn, rotating 180 degrees like a combination punch, her cheeks always flushed when she woke up. But when she slept with Ming Fei, she would be very quiet and well-behaved, like a delicate doll figurine.

According to their usual bedtime routine, Ming Zaozao would usually fall asleep after listening to a fairy tale. But perhaps because she had napped for a long time today, she didn’t close her eyes even after listening to two bedtime stories.

Ming Fei pinched her round cheeks and softly asked if she couldn’t sleep.

Ming Zaozao suddenly asked, “Mommy, are you happy living here with Auntie?”

Ming Fei replied, “Of course, Mommy is happy. What’s wrong, Zaozao, are you unhappy?”

Ming Zaozao shook her head: “Baby is happy! But Baby also wants Mommy to be happy~”

“When we came here, Mommy told Baby to tell you if Baby was unhappy.” Ming Zaozao explained, “Baby remembers, but Baby also wants Mommy to be happy. If Mommy doesn’t say it, Baby will ask Mommy!”

Ming Fei’s heart softened, and the shyness she had felt after receiving the message was thrown to the back of her mind.

She kissed Ming Zaozao on the face: “I’m very happy, every day.”

Although she had never asked Ming Zaozao to be well-behaved and understanding, Ming Zaozao really was a very good and understanding child. She remembered once when they were playing in the park, a stranger walking her dog asked Ming Zaozao if only her mother had come to play with her.

Ming Zaozao had just learned how to speak in sentences at the time and often used gestures to help express herself.

She earnestly told the stranger that she only had one mommy, and that her mommy worked hard every day to take care of her and earn money to support her, and that she loved her mommy very, very much.

Ming Fei was very touched at the time.

That feeling hadn’t completely dissipated even now. She chatted with Ming Zaozao for a while, and after telling her another story about a little bear in the forest, Ming Zaozao finally fell asleep.

After making sure Ming Zaozao was sound asleep, Ming Fei glanced at the time.

When she saw that it was almost 11:30 pm, she quickly put on her coat and shoes, quietly left the bedroom, and went straight up the stairs to the bedroom on the third floor. But as she passed the study, the sensor door opened automatically.

Ming Fei stopped, encountering Zhu Yiqiao, who happened to be coming out of the study.

The light and shadows in the corridor became both distant and ambiguous as they looked at each other. Ming Fei averted her gaze, like the rabbit in the fairy tale she had just told Ming Zaozao, hiding in the grass and vigilantly raising its ears.

And Zhu Yiqiao at this moment was like a snake in the flowers, watching her with cold eyes, slowly coiling its tail around her as she remained vigilant.

The carefully monitored pheromone-blocking bracelet had been left in the study.

Suddenly, as if countless fir and cedar trees had sprung up in the corridor, Ming Fei felt like she was in a snowy forest, the air filled with a clear and elegant woody scent.

She felt a little dizzy, the strange feeling from the evening returning, her body temperature rising slightly. Even though she was wearing a suppressor patch and a bracelet, she couldn’t control the overflowing pheromones.

…What was going on?

Why was Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromone scent so strange?

The surging pear scent blossomed into pear flowers on the cedar and fir trees, and sweet pears fell to the ground beneath the trees.

Ming Fei was a little dazed by the intertwining of the two pheromones, her brain slowing down. Her gaze swept over Zhu Yiqiao’s wrist, noticing that she wasn’t wearing a pheromone bracelet, and she immediately asked,

“…Jiejie, are your pheromones leaking because you’re not wearing the bracelet?”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t say a word, like her name—a silent, towering mountain, full of dangerous cliffs.

The pheromone bracelet on Ming Fei’s wrist flashed a red warning, indicating that the current pheromone concentration was too high and might cause some chaotic situations.

Because the red light was very conspicuous in the dim environment, Ming Fei glanced at the pheromone bracelet, originally intending to take it off and give it to Zhu Yiqiao, but after a second thought, she realized it might not be what she thought.

After all—

Even though she was wearing both the bracelet and the suppressor patch, she still couldn’t control the overflowing pheromones.

So, perhaps it wasn’t the bracelet at all.

Then, what was the reason for Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromone release?

Ming Fei was puzzled. The pheromone concentration in the air was getting higher and higher, and her thoughts became more and more chaotic.

She couldn’t help but wonder, could this be… a premonition of Zhu Yiqiao’s heat cycle?

Once this thought emerged, it couldn’t be suppressed, just like her pheromones. To confirm her guess, she even asked directly without considering anything else.

“Jiejie, is your heat cycle coming?”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t confirm or deny, only her gaze deepened, her elegant pheromones surging silently like an unpredictable deep sea.

Seeing this, Ming Fei felt that her guess was probably correct.

Because the premonition of her own heat cycle was like this, and from Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromone state, she could sense that Zhu Yiqiao seemed to have… suppressed it for a long time.

…What should she do? She thought.

After a brief moment of thought, Ming Fei, who had received help from Zhu Yiqiao many times, couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. She decisively made a decision.

However—

She didn’t know that the person in front of her wasn’t an alpha like her, but an omega who had extensive experience pretending to be an alpha, possessed extraordinary endurance, and could always withstand her heat cycles.

She was like an innocent, naive deer, approaching a flower bush full of traps with good intentions.

“Then… Jiejie, do you need me to provide a reverse temporary marking?”

Chapter 44: Come to My Room Tonight 

Snow began to fall outside the French windows.

Ming Fei, standing a few steps away from Zhu Yiqiao, suddenly felt a little strange.

Why did Chief Judge Zhu keep asking about this?

It didn’t seem to have much to do with making the original Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum.

Although she thought this, she didn’t question Zhu Yiqiao, but seriously considered her question.

—Just an online friend?

—Of course not.

Even though One Raccoon Hill had deleted her account without warning, and even though they hadn’t had any contact since then, the past shared moments were real.

The shared stories had truly happened.

The care and praise were sincere.

All the connections established on “Supporters of the Rose” were genuine.

Although that time was short, the joy and happiness it brought her surpassed the past thirteen years. So, even now, she was still grateful to One Raccoon Hill, grateful for everything she had brought her.

Therefore, she accepted all the good and the bad, accepted all the outcomes of this friendship.

But how could she define their relationship to someone who knew nothing about them? Ming Fei couldn’t immediately give a perfect answer.

She pursed her lips, her gaze shifting to the French window, her voice a little low.

“…To me, she was more than just an online friend.”

Just as she finished speaking, Xue Xun, who had already gone to the second floor, suddenly returned. Having just overheard their conversation, she timely teased,

“Teacher Xiao Fei, saying that, do you have feelings for that friend?”

For Xue Xun, surviving in the apocalypse was already difficult. Many people didn’t even have the energy to think about tomorrow, so when it came to feelings, she was always frank and straightforward, without any hesitation.

But she didn’t expect that after hearing these words, Ming Fei’s cheeks would turn crimson, adding a touch of beauty to her delicate face.

A bit like an innocent deer, hiding out of shyness.

Seeing this, Xue Xun couldn’t help but think, could an alpha… be shy? Weren’t alphas arrogant and conceited creatures who didn’t even know the meaning of the word “shy”?

“No,” Ming Fei quickly explained, “I was only thirteen at the time, we were just friends.”

Intrigued, Xue Xun continued to tease her: “But maybe the other party did?”

Ming Fei was very firm: “No, they didn’t.”

Xue Xun’s interest grew, wanting to tease her a bit more, but stopped when Zhu Yiqiao looked at her.

Their gazes met in the air.

One flamboyant like fire, the other cold as ice.

Meeting Zhu Yiqiao’s cold gaze, Xue Xun raised an eyebrow and smiled, as if hinting at something. And Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze became even more distant and profound, like a misty sea.

This clash of ice and fire ended with Zhu Yiqiao’s victory.

Xue Xun, coming back to her senses, was a little surprised, because she had just revised her bet in her heart. After all, her friend’s aversion to alphas was not an exaggeration, and after learning about Ming Fei’s alpha identity, she found it hard to be optimistic about her chances.

But thinking of Zaozao, the link between them, her surprise disappeared.

“I heard from Zaozao that Teacher Xiao Fei likes flowers?”

The topic change was a bit abrupt. Ming Fei nodded, puzzled.

Xue Xun sat back on the sofa, gestured for Ming Fei to sit next to her, and raised her right hand.

“I just made a joke with Teacher Xiao Fei, and I wasn’t careful with my words, it was a bit too much.”

The blush on Ming Fei’s face had faded. She didn’t think it was too much, because Xue Xun’s tone hadn’t carried any malice from beginning to end. She had heard countless jokes far more malicious than this in the orphanage, and no one had ever apologized to her for a joke.

She smiled gently, her dark eyes like the moon reflected in water, both bright and hazy.

“No,” she said. “You’re being too serious.”

Meeting Ming Fei’s gaze, Xue Xun conjured a white rose with her right fingertips. The freshly bloomed white rose had a captivating fragrance, and Xue Xun handed it to Ming Fei.

“What kind of flowers does Teacher Xiao Fei like?”

This was the first time Ming Fei had witnessed Xue Xun using her ability. Her eyes flickered with novelty. Touching the soft, white petals, she immediately asked,

“Will using your ability like this affect your body?”

Xue Xun said, “No.”

She explained, “Ability users who awakened their abilities in the apocalypse can use their abilities without limit. Except for some overly aggressive abilities, they basically don’t have any negative effects on the body.”

At this moment, Ming Fei sat up straight, like a student attentively listening to new knowledge, her slightly round almond eyes fixed on the white rose.

“So amazing.” She asked, “Xue Xun Jiejie, is it convenient for you to reveal what your ability is specifically?”

Hearing this, Xue Xun snapped her fingers.

Instantly, all the flowers in the flowerbed outside the French windows swayed as if they had sensed something. The unopened new multi-cornered roses even bloomed layer by layer at this moment, instantly becoming as beautiful as a painting of a snowy landscape with a hundred flowers.

Ming Fei looked up, completely captivated by this scene.

Xue Xun’s voice rang out: “My ability is relatively gentle, belonging to the auxiliary type. I can control the growth of plants and also turn them into puppets for my use. What kind of flowers do you want? As long as it’s within the main urban area, I can make them appear in front of you.”

Before this, although Ming Fei had read several post-apocalyptic novels and watched some post-apocalyptic movies, she had never so truly felt the wonder of another space-time.

Flowers and the apocalypse, like gentleness and violence.

These two unrelated elements, combined in Xue Xun, added a touch of mystery to her.

Ming Fei suddenly looked at Zhu Yiqiao and asked,

“Jiejie, what kind of flowers do you like?”

Even though Xue Xun had returned, Zhu Yiqiao hadn’t spoken, but her presence couldn’t be ignored. There were many reasons for this, such as the aura of her high position, her cold and aloof temperament, and that face that could never be a mere backdrop.

The Chief Judge of the Independent State of Yi Meng, whenever she appeared in public, was the center of attention. This was true at any time, in any place.

Zhu Yiqiao looked over, not answering what she liked, but simply saying,

“My preference isn’t important. She’s apologizing to you, your preference matters.”

Ming Fei smiled: “Okay.”

Driven by her curiosity about the unknown, Ming Fei showed a more lively side in the following time, a smile always playing on her lips and in her eyes, her whole person more energetic and cheerful.

Clearly more relaxed and happy than when she was alone with Zhu Yiqiao.

She chatted with Xue Xun, not noticing Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze, nor the pheromone bracelet on her wrist that occasionally lit up.

Xue Xun was staying at the villa for the night.

Ming Zaozao was the happiest to hear this news, because Xue Xun had played with her for a long time this afternoon.

And Ming Fei was in the craft room working on the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum, extremely focused, striving to make every detail perfect.

However, she was a little hesitant about whether or not to add a pear to the bottom corner of the drum’s surface. This would cater to Zhu Yiqiao’s preference and make this drum, specially made for Zhu Yiqiao, even more unique.

Before transmigrating, Ming Fei had a habit of flipping a coin whenever she was indecisive to decide what to do next. But she had changed this habit after transmigrating, and now she had learned how to weigh and make decisions.

After much deliberation, she sent a message to Zhu Yiqiao, who was in the study on the third floor.

[Jiejie, do you want a pear added to the bottom corner of the drum’s surface?]

[If you like this change, I’ll redo the drum surface. If you don’t think it’s necessary, then forget it.]

Five minutes later, she received Zhu Yiqiao’s reply.

[Okay.]

[But I want it added to the right side of the bells.]

Ming Fei respected Zhu Yiqiao’s wishes and ideas.

[Okay, then I’ll do it according to Jiejie’s idea.]

[[Kitten giving thumbs up.jpg]]

Just as she was about to put down her phone, she saw a news push notification from the campus forum. The title was “Yuan Xiu from the university next door suddenly investigated and dismissed.”

Ming Fei clicked on the notification and read the news, then logged into W University’s official website.

Yuan Xiu’s name was indeed gone from the Institute of Paleontology. All traces of her had been erased, even the group photos with students from projects a few years ago were gone, as if she had never existed.

Not only that, but another researcher from the Institute of Paleontology had also disappeared along with Yuan Xiu.

This meant that the research institute had planted more than one person in W University’s Institute of Paleontology.

Ming Fei’s heart sank.

She exited W University’s official website and was about to start making the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum when she received a reply from Zhu Yiqiao.

[Thank you.]

[Send me a list of gifts you want or need.]

Ming Fei immediately snapped out of the low mood brought on by the Yuan Xiu incident.

Up to now, she still didn’t know the extent of Zhu Yiqiao’s wealth. After seeing the message, she replied without hesitation that she didn’t want or need any gifts.

To confirm her thoughts and determination, she even sent Zhu Yiqiao the plan list she had made at the beginning of the year, and added an animated emoji at the end.

[Jiejie has already given me everything I need, suppressants, pheromone bracelet, suppressor patches, and so on. Not only that, Jiejie has also helped me a lot. I don’t need any gifts in return.]

[[Kitten happily playing a trumpet.gif]]

Zhu Yiqiao’s reply wasn’t what Ming Fei had expected.

[It’s not a gift in return.]

[It’s a reward.]

[You and Zaozao are heroes in the Yuan Xiu incident.]

Ming Fei took a sip of the hot tea on the table, still not wanting to accept this reward, and she was certain that Ming Zaozao didn’t lack anything either. As she was still thinking about how to reply, Zhu Yiqiao sent her another message.

[Blue Fia?]

Blue Fia was a new type of lily that had only been cultivated in recent years. It was an extremely rare butterfly-wing blue and grew at the foot of the snow mountains in Silla.

Because it was so far away, even Xue Xun couldn’t conjure it with her ability.

Ming Fei didn’t expect Zhu Yiqiao to actually remember Blue Fia, because Zhu Yiqiao hadn’t spoken much during her conversation with Xue Xun, seemingly uninterested in these things.

And in her guess, the busy Chief Judge wouldn’t remember things she wasn’t interested in.

She was a little surprised, but didn’t think too much about it. And she really did want this flower, so she relented and agreed.

[Thank you, Jiejie.]

[[Little bear offering flowers.jpg]]

The heavy snow outside the window never stopped.

At seven o’clock during dinner, the entire garden was covered with a thin layer of snow, the occasional bright colors of flowers peeking through the snow like splashes of colored ink on a white canvas after an overturned palette.

The four of them sat in the dining room. Outside the glass windows, the winter chill deepened, and the heavy snow fell, a beautiful sight.

Ming Zaozao was the most focused eater, her head down the whole time, occasionally reminding Ming Fei to eat more when she drank water.

Xue Xun asked with interest, “Zaozao, do you know what Mommy likes to eat?”

Ming Zaozao nodded: “Mm-hmm! Baby likes to eat everything Mommy likes to eat!”

“Then what are they?”

“Mommy likes to eat shrimp, pineapple, carrots, tomatoes…”

As Ming Zaozao recited the list of foods, Ming Fei was replying to Li Xing’s message. Her friend had sent her a newly published classical philosophy book and invited her to read chapter 3, page 56.

She clicked on it and saw that it was about the philosopher they had talked about in the morning.

So, she replied to her friend with a “little rabbit nodding” emoji.

Ming Fei put down her phone, but accidentally knocked over a porcelain plate on the table, spilling Zhu Yiqiao’s soup as well.

The milky white soup flowed along the tablecloth onto Zhu Yiqiao’s shirt sleeve. Ming Fei’s body reacted faster than her mind, and she leaned over to check if Zhu Yiqiao had been scalded, her hand covering Zhu Yiqiao’s.

After repeatedly confirming that only the cuff was stained with soup, Ming Fei bent down and wiped Zhu Yiqiao’s sleeve, apologizing profusely.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t notice the soup was there.”

Zhu Yiqiao: “It’s okay.”

Ming Fei hesitated to speak. After wiping it clean, she looked up and noticed Xue Xun staring at her.

Compared to noon, there was a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.

Ming Fei didn’t mind and sat back in her seat after making sure Zhu Yiqiao was fine.

Because of this small incident, Ming Fei lost her appetite. Except for picking up food for Ming Zaozao, she mostly just drank water.

She felt inexplicably thirsty, and her body temperature rose slightly without her realizing it. In the end, she almost finished half a pot of water.

And Xue Xun, who had witnessed this small incident, felt the balance in her heart shift again—

Based on her understanding of her friend, Zhu Yiqiao would only move away when an alpha approached, or throw them over her shoulder. Not like just now, remaining motionless from beginning to end, allowing Ming Fei to approach.

Letting Ming Fei carefully wipe the soup for her, even… touching her wrist.

Therefore, Xue Xun decided to observe further before deciding whether to change her bet.

After dinner, Ming Fei put on her coat, gloves, and hat, and holding a black umbrella, went to the garden. After picking all the Bingjiao roses in the corner, she returned to the living room with the flower basket.

The moon was silver, and Ming Fei, covered in snow, was chilled to the bone.

When Ming Zaozao rushed towards her, she didn’t hug her because of the cold, just bent down and kissed her round face, coaxing her to continue watching cartoons.

Xue Xun, her red curly hair tied up, sat down opposite Ming Fei with a smile.

“You could have just told me,” Xue Xun helped her trim the flower branches. “I could have used my ability to bring them inside for you, and you wouldn’t have had to brave the snow to pick them.”

Ming Fei didn’t want to trouble others with things she could do herself. She wasn’t very familiar with Xue Xun yet, far from the point where she could directly ask her to use her ability.

She made up an excuse, and Xue Xun didn’t press further, quickly finding a new topic to start a conversation.

“In the twentieth year of the apocalypse, plants and animals all mutated…”

Ming Fei multitasked, trimming the roses while listening to Xue Xun’s apocalyptic stories. She was very interested in the mutation of plants and animals, sometimes even asking with a smile,

“Xue Xun Jiejie, could marine life go on land then?”

“Would small mushrooms turn into mushroom houses?”

“Would mutated rabbits still eat carrots?”

…

Xue Xun patiently answered all of Ming Fei’s questions.

She thought, perhaps it was because Ming Fei, like her lover whom she had been separated from for eight years, had black hair and black eyes.

The atmosphere between them remained lively during the trimming process.

But for some reason, this scene of them chatting happily was an eyesore to Zhu Yiqiao.

She hadn’t felt this way before.

Zhu Yiqiao looked away, lowering her head to browse the latest document sent by Lan Lubai. Five minutes later, she closed the document, her gaze sweeping over the display screen and landing directly on Ming Fei, who was still trimming the roses.

The person who was usually slightly reserved in front of her now had a bright smile, her almond eyes curved.

After a few seconds, Zhu Yiqiao left the living room.

And when Ming Fei finished trimming, placed the roses in a glass vase, and took them back to the study, she received a message from Zhu Yiqiao.

[Come to my room tonight.]

[We’ll start the first guidance session.]

Chapter 43: I Like You Very Much

“—Besides Zaozao, have you given the original version of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum to anyone else?”

“—Who?”

These two sudden questions, like a perfectly fitting key, unlocked the long-sealed shackles of memory.

As her thoughts raced, Ming Fei was pulled back to a snowy night many years ago.

The first snow of the year fell on the border of the Ole Empire.

Thirteen-year-old Ming Fei had just met her third set of adoptive parents.

Compared to the previous two, her first impression of the third set was gentle, like the melodious sound of a zither on a drizzly night.

But the two previous bad adoption experiences made her resistant to entering another family.

When the dean came to talk to Ming Fei, she originally wanted to refuse directly, but after hearing about the orphanage’s financial difficulties and various predicaments, and seeing the dean’s hopeful gaze, she relented and agreed.

The third adoptive parent’s name was Shu Hui, a 35-year-old female beta, and also an inheritor of the orchid drum craft. Her partner, also a beta, was named Li Xianxiao. They ran a dessert shop together, owned a house and a car without any loans, and lived a relatively comfortable life.

On Ming Fei’s first day in their home, Li Xianxiao prepared a beautiful flower cake for her.

It was the first time Ming Fei had eaten such a beautiful, soft, and sweet cake. She was both careful and reserved, her slender figure like a sapling battered by the wind and snow outside the window.

Shu Hui and Li Xianxiao noticed her apprehension and caution.

They spent nearly half a month patiently building a closer relationship with Ming Fei, including but not limited to setting up a cozy bedroom for her, converting a small guest room into her study, taking her to bustling shopping malls to buy clothes, a communicator, and so on.

They even prepared small gifts for her every Monday and Friday.

Half a month later, Ming Fei took the initiative to share interesting stories from her classes with them for the first time.

Both of them smiled, their worried hearts finally at ease.

A month later, Ming Fei took the initiative to go for a walk in the park with them and used her free time on the weekend to cook dinner for them according to their tastes.

The two were overjoyed, as if they had found a treasure.

It was also on the thirtieth day after arriving at her new home that Ming Fei registered on “Supporters of the Rose,” a platform developed by supporters of the Mehertaer faction.

Because her peers at school had mostly undergone differentiation predictions arranged by their families, and joined the frenzy of domestication based on the prediction results.

As a supporter of the Mehertaer faction, Ming Fei couldn’t understand the Ole Empire’s alienation and training.

Therefore, although she was polite to others at school, she mostly kept to herself, not participating in any group’s implicit training.

When registering on “Supporters of the Rose,” she chose a white dog avatar, then used the name of a tree from a certain book as her nickname. After that, she logged in and started browsing the latest news from the Mehertaer faction.

According to the rules of “Supporters of the Rose,” new registrants would have a separate page for communication on the day of registration.

Ming Fei saw a nickname on that page.

[One Raccoon Hill]

She immediately guessed where this nickname came from.

—It was from the same book as her nickname, “Records of Ancient Mountains,” and her nickname, Tree of Mystical Jade, was the divine tree that grew on One Raccoon Hill.

Ming Fei, sitting in her study chair, blinked, thinking, what a coincidence.

But she didn’t bother the other person. Even though she didn’t have many friends at school or in life, she didn’t prioritize making friends. She registered on “Supporters of the Rose” just to stay updated on the latest news from the Mehertaer faction.

Besides, she was already used to being alone.

On the fortieth day after arriving at her new home, Shu Hui taught her how to make orchid drums. She had nimble hands and learned how to make drums in less than a week.

On the sixteenth day after registering on “Supporters of the Rose,” Ming Fei, after finishing her homework and reading, washed up and logged in again.

She focused on the public page, intently browsing the analysis posts on the Mehertaer faction’s activities and liking the posts.

As she was about to exit, she accidentally touched the nearby recommendations, and saw a familiar nickname among them.

[One Raccoon Hill]

This second encounter piqued Ming Fei’s rare curiosity.

She stared at the other person’s orange cat avatar, struggling internally. She flipped a coin, and when it landed in her palm, seeing that it was heads, representing “yes,” she mustered the courage and clicked on the other person’s profile.

One Raccoon Hill was very mysterious.

The personal page was blank, with only a system-generated message.

[Today is the sixteenth day since One Raccoon Hill registered on Supporters of the Rose. Nice to meet everyone ^^]

Looking at the zero likes on the post, Ming Fei hesitated for a moment, then lightly touched the like button, successfully changing the number to one.

A gust of wind howled past, and the chill seeped in through the window cracks.

Ming Fei, who had been afraid of the cold since childhood, immediately got up and closed the window, making sure the crack was completely sealed before looking down at the display screen of her communicator.

[22:47, December 27, user One Raccoon Hill liked your post ^^]

Ming Fei was a little surprised. She clicked on the details page of the system message and found that One Raccoon Hill had also liked her system-generated post.

Although she had been abandoned as a child and then experienced two more abandonments, Ming Fei had always been a polite child. Following the principle of reciprocity, and considering the shared origin of their nicknames from the same book, she followed the other person.

The next moment—

A new message from One Raccoon Hill popped up.

[One Raccoon Hill: Hello, do you also like to eat pears?]

Ming Fei, who was somewhat socially anxious, widened her eyes.

Her brain even froze for a moment, like an old robot suddenly malfunctioning, staring at the display screen without blinking.

It wasn’t until the malfunction was automatically repaired that her brain started working again at high speed.

After typing and deleting several times, Ming Fei replied politely, also explaining the meaning behind her nickname.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: What a coincidence, hello, pears are delicious. The Tree of Mystical Jade is a divine tree that grows on the top of One Raccoon Hill, representing freedom and courage. Its branches and leaves are made of jade and crystals. I chose this nickname because my name happens to have a character related to jade and crystals ^^]

One Raccoon Hill replied quickly, and after replying, politely ended the conversation.

Ming Fei didn’t dwell on this small interlude. She continued her daily life, going to school, eating, resting, and sometimes even taking the initiative to cook dinner for her two adoptive parents, and after finishing, riding her electric scooter to deliver it to their dessert shop.

As time went by, she gradually got used to this new home and got along better and better with Shu Hui, at least no longer feeling as awkward and uneasy as she had at the beginning.

Another month later, she independently made an orchid drum unlike any other on the market. Although a small accident occurred during the making process, because of this accident, she dyed the drum surface a light purple that was only visible in sunlight.

This was her unique creation, and she named this orchid drum—the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum.

Because of the joy and excitement of her first design, Ming Fei shared photos of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum on her “Supporters of the Rose” account.

After posting, Ming Fei went to the living room for dinner. Two hours later, when she returned to her room, because she hadn’t logged out of “Supporters of the Rose,” a new message from One Raccoon Hill popped up on the communicator’s display screen.

Ming Fei was a little surprised to receive a message from One Raccoon Hill after a month.

[One Raccoon Hill: Hello, may I ask where you bought this drum?]

After reading the message, Ming Fei’s surprise gradually turned into happiness, because this sentence felt like affirmation and recognition.

To confirm her guess, she flipped a coin again, and after getting “yes” again, she typed and asked,

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Hello, do you like it?]

The other party’s subsequent messages all expressed their love for the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum without reservation, which made Ming Fei even happier, her round almond eyes curving into crescents, and the small dimple on her right cheek appearing as the corners of her lips curled up.

She briefly introduced the making process of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum to One Raccoon Hill, and after sending the message, she received generous praise from One Raccoon Hill.

[One Raccoon Hill: You did very well.]

[One Raccoon Hill: When you grow up, you will definitely become a world-renowned drum maker.]

This was the first time Ming Fei had received such straightforward and grand praise.

Most of the time, she was overlooked because of her shy personality, and few people praised her like this.

She was a little embarrassed, her eyelashes fluttering as she replied.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Thank you ^^]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: You just asked about my age, if it’s convenient, could you tell me how old you are?]

[One Raccoon Hill: Three years older than you.]

Ming Fei looked at the other party’s orange cat avatar, added three cat emojis at the end of the other party’s system default nickname, and replied politely.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Okay, then I’m three years younger.]

[One Raccoon Hill: How tall are you?]

Because of some malnutrition in the orphanage, Ming Fei wasn’t very tall for her age, just over 162 centimeters.

She replied without hiding anything.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: 162 centimeters.]

[One Raccoon Hill: I’m taller than you.]

So, in Ming Fei’s imagination, the image of One Raccoon Hill became a large orange cat.

They started chatting about the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum, and that night, Ming Fei didn’t even read before bed. Later, as supporters of the Mehertaer faction, they contacted each other more and more often, and had more and more topics to talk about.

The Ole Empire’s domestication was everywhere. Even the children in the orphanage who hadn’t differentiated yet fully agreed with the Kerry Declaration and strived to differentiate into alphas or omegas.

Before One Raccoon Hill, Ming Fei had never had anyone to talk to about the wider world. When the frequency of their chats gradually increased to once every two days, she considered the other party her first friend and wrote the nickname One Raccoon Hill in her diary.

[Many lucky things happened this year. I met people who are very good to me, and I also met my first friend. Her nickname is One Raccoon Hill. I like her very much and hope our friendship will last forever (>v<)]

Later, when the frequency of their chats increased to once every day and a half, Ming Fei received some news.

—Shu Hui was pregnant.

And the reason the two had adopted her was entirely because… the pregnancy rate for two betas was low, and Shu Hui had been in a car accident in her early years, making it difficult for her to have children.

After learning this news, Ming Fei didn’t have any suspicions. She was happy for the smiles on their faces and also worried about Shu Hui’s health.

Before going to bed that night, she received a message from One Raccoon Hill.

[One Raccoon Hill: My seventeenth birthday is next month.]

[One Raccoon Hill: I’ll be four years older than you soon.]

Ming Fei blinked.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Wow~]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Then is it convenient for you to give me an address? I want to send you a birthday gift.]

[One Raccoon Hill: Yes.]

[One Raccoon Hill: But there must be reciprocity. You also have to give me an address, and I will send you a gift in return.]

Ming Fei was a little puzzled.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: My birthday hasn’t arrived yet, why should I give a return gift?]

The other party’s reply was always direct and frank.

[One Raccoon Hill: Have you ever seen an older sister take advantage of a younger sister?]

Ming Fei’s gaze fixed on those two words.

…Older sister?

One Raccoon Hill actually saw her as a younger sister!

Her surprise was mixed with happiness, because she had stayed in the orphanage for so long, and before being adopted for the third time, she had become the oldest child there.

So, she had always taken on the role of a caregiver, accustomed to being tolerant, forgiving, even ignored and neglected.

Ming Fei repeatedly looked at One Raccoon Hill’s reply and decided to give her a unique Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum.

However, just one day before finishing the drum, she accidentally overheard a conversation between Shu Hui and Li Xianxiao.

Li Xianxiao said, “Send her back.”

Shu Hui’s tone was hesitant: “Will this…”

“Will what?” Li Xianxiao said decisively, “The cost of raising two children is high, especially since your health isn’t good. The birthing costs will be several times higher. Sending her back now is already being benevolent.”

“But when we adopted her, we said we would always—”

Li Xianxiao interrupted: “That’s because we didn’t have our own child yet. But now our own child is coming, and we have no reason to raise another orphan. Do you want our child to face a stranger with no blood relation after they’re born?”

“Or are you happy to be asked by our child why we adopted an orphan before they arrived?” Li Xianxiao continued, “Why let a stranger into our home to compete with them for things?”

Ming Fei, hiding behind the door, her pupils constricted, her pale fingertips clenching the corner of her clothes.

After a long silence, Shu Hui finally compromised.

“—Then send her back.”

That night, after discovering their true thoughts, Ming Fei was repeatedly awakened by nightmares. After waking up for the third time, she got out of bed with a pale face and started making the drum, working through the night to finish the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum by the next morning.

Shu Hui and Li Xianxiao went to the hospital for a checkup. Ming Fei left this home that never belonged to her and sent the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum to the address One Raccoon Hill had given her.

After completing this crucial task, Ming Fei walked silently along the lakeside path.

The path was filled with couples or families of three walking hand in hand. Only Ming Fei was alone, all the way to the end of the path.

She walked slowly, each step seemingly heavy, her face pale. After returning to the starting point of the path, she sat on a stone bench like a homeless wanderer.

At noon, back in the house, Shu Hui confessed to Ming Fei alone.

Her eyes were filled with guilt, sadness, and helplessness, but mostly with determination and relief.

Relief that Ming Fei was an obedient child.

Relief that Ming Fei said it was okay after hearing the news.

“It’s okay.” Ming Fei repeated softly, as if comforting herself, “It’s okay.”

She calmly accepted the final outcome and agreed with them that she would leave tomorrow. She didn’t cry when the door closed.

But when she logged into her account to send a message to One Raccoon Hill, her vision blurred with tears.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: I’m a little sad.]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: …Jiejie, I feel terrible today.]

A whole night passed, and One Raccoon Hill didn’t reply. And when she packed her things and logged into “Supporters of the Rose” again, she found that One Raccoon Hill’s account had been deleted.

Without any warning, completely disappearing from her world.

The tears Ming Fei had been holding back finally fell. She tried searching again, repeatedly checking if there was a problem with her own account, but no matter what she did, the system kept reminding her—there was no mistake, the other party had really deleted their account.

The constantly flashing red words made her burst into tears.

She cried silently, thinking she had already gotten used to it, that she could be indifferent, not attached, not lingering. But her tears told her that wasn’t the case. She was just forced to get used to it, forced to be indifferent.

In this vast world, she was once again abandoned by everyone, left alone, walking alone in the wind and snow.

Therefore—

Nearly thirteen years later, facing Zhu Yiqiao’s question, the now 25-year-old Ming Fei, 183 centimeters tall, after a brief hesitation, answered softly,

“A friend.”

After saying that, she paused, thinking that this answer might not be comprehensive enough, and then thought of a more appropriate answer.

“An… online friend I knew before.”

Zhu Yiqiao, who had asked the question, remained calm and collected, like a chess player in control. Only the pheromone bracelet on her wrist flickered.

—The surging pheromones revealed her… concern.

She looked at Ming Fei and asked, “Just an online friend?”

Chapter 42: “Are You An Omega?” p2

Xue Xun looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar environment and decor. Arriving at the shooting training room on the first floor, she took off her red coat because of the indoor temperature. She sat down unceremoniously on the brown leather sofa and poured herself a cup of hot tea.

“Oh, some people really put on airs, not even greeting their Jiejie.”

Although Zhu Yiqiao rarely addressed Xue Xun this way, it didn’t prevent her from perfectly imitating Lan Lubai’s performance.

After letting Xue Xun act for a while, Zhu Yiqiao, who was in front, took off her goggles, put down the simulation training gun, and walked towards her, taking off her gloves.

“Get to the point.”

Xue Xun conjured a blue rose with her fingertips: “Our Colonel Zhu’s skills haven’t diminished after three years of retirement. This rose is for Colonel Zhu, who hit every bullseye.”

The white gloves landed in the trash can.

Zhu Yiqiao looked up and said, “Xue Xun.”

The blue rose instantly scattered into blue petals, then turned into tiny blue particles, and finally disappeared into thin air.

Xue Xun said slowly, “When I went to Dr. Tang’s, I accidentally glanced at Ming Fei’s medical records. Is she also from your world?”

“Mm.”

Xue Xun rested her chin on one hand, the red crystal bracelet on her exposed wrist like a small red snake coiled around her fair skin.

“What is she?”

Xue Xun raised an eyebrow, guessing, “An omega?”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t speak.

Xue Xun asserted, “I guessed right, didn’t I? Based on your description of the Ole Empire, Teacher Xiao Fei is definitely an omega. That’s great, since you hate alphas, I’m betting all on Teacher Xiao Fei!”

Zhu Yiqiao: “Betting?”

Xue Xun smiled brightly: “Well, isn’t it because Min Man insists that you two are just in a normal cooperative relationship, and Lubai insists that it’s definitely not? I agree with Lubai, so the three of us made a bet.”

“Yiqiao, why don’t you also bet on your own heart?”

Zhu Yiqiao’s emotionless voice rang out: “As public officials, leading the way in gambling, the two executives have too much free time.”

“Chief Judge Zhu, you’re being too harsh. How is this gambling? As citizens of the Independent State of Yi Meng, the two executives and I strictly abide by laws and regulations, regularly pay…”

Xue Xun wanted to continue arguing, but suddenly thought of something, her voice gradually lowering.

Even her green eyes dimmed a little.

After a long silence, Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Did you find any clues this time?”

Xue Xun looked away: “Nothing.”

This was her eighth year in this world, and also the eighth year since she was separated from her lover. Although they had been trapped in a horde of zombies before transmigrating, already forced into a desperate situation, she still believed—

That no matter where they were in the world,

Her wolf cub would come to her.

After the physical examination at the hospital, Ming Fei took Ming Zaozao to the commercial street to buy all the materials needed to make the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum before returning in the self-driving car.

Because they woke up early, Ming Zaozao fell asleep after watching cartoons for a while on the way back.

Ming Fei covered her with a soft blanket and recorded the scenery along the way with her phone.

Ming Zaozao happened to wake up when they arrived at the villa.

After getting out of the car, Ming Fei held Ming Zaozao’s hand with her left hand and carried the purchased materials and other daily necessities in her right hand.

Both mother and daughter were wearing light apricot scarves, except Ming Zaozao’s scarf had a little bear on the end, while Ming Fei’s was simpler and more mature.

Ming Zaozao entered the living room two steps ahead of Ming Fei. Just as she was about to greet Zhu Yiqiao, she saw a stranger with red hair and green eyes.

“Eh?”

She was a little surprised, because this auntie, with a red pearl necklace around her neck, really looked like a mermaid from a fairy tale.

Xue Xun waved at her: “Hello, Zaozao, come here, Auntie.”

After reacting, Ming Zaozao politely greeted both of them and ran towards Xue Xun.

Ming Fei, two steps behind, smiled politely at Xue Xun. Xue Xun returned the smile and took out the gifts she had prepared for the mother and daughter.

Thanks to Ming Zaozao, the little social butterfly, the three chatted back and forth.

During this time, Zhu Yiqiao remained silent, her gaze only lingering on the packaging of the materials for a moment.

Soon, the dutiful 0619 came to remind Ming Zaozao that the new game she had reserved on the holographic game console was online. Ming Zaozao really wanted to play this game and had been asking 0619 if it was ready yet since the game’s official release.

Hearing 0619’s reminder, she waved to the three of them and happily went to the toy room on the second floor with her gifts.

Only the three adults remained in the living room, and the lively atmosphere instantly became quiet.

Fortunately, Xue Xun didn’t let the silence become awkward.

She asked curiously, “Teacher Xiao Fei, can I ask you a question?”

Ming Fei nodded: “Mm.”

“Are you an omega?”

Ming Fei, having just received the gift, although she knew beforehand that Xue Xun was a transmigrator from a post-apocalyptic world, was still a little stunned by this unexpected question.

Suppressing her emotions, she said, “No, I’m an alpha.”

Xue Xun, who was tasting her hot tea, almost choked. After coughing twice, she subconsciously looked at Zhu Yiqiao.

She thought, based on her understanding of Zhu Yiqiao, perhaps she needed to change her bet. After all, in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes, most alphas belonged in the garbage dump, as that was where trash like them belonged.

Her surprise was obvious, and Ming Fei couldn’t help but ask, puzzled,

“Xue Xun Jiejie, what’s wrong?”

Xue Xun explained, “Nothing, just a little surprised.”

This surprise was no less than the first time she heard in the apocalypse that a rabbit had suddenly mutated and gained overwhelming combat power, not only able to kick humans flying with one kick but also bite off the heads of zombies.

The display screen suddenly lit up, and Xue Xun picked up her phone and walked towards the second floor.

“You two chat, I’ll take this call and go play games with Zaozao.”

The number of people decreased again, leaving only two in the living room.

Ming Fei picked up the crafting materials and approached Zhu Yiqiao, preparing to go to the craft room on the second floor after asking for Zhu Yiqiao’s opinion.

“I took Zaozao to the commercial street and bought the materials for the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum.”

She looked at Zhu Yiqiao, her voice lacking the previous tension: “Jiejie prefers the original version of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum, right?”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t answer directly, but instead asked slowly,

“What did you just call Xue Xun?”

Ming Fei recalled: “…Xue Xun Jiejie?”

She hadn’t originally intended to address her this way, but Xue Xun had given her a very expensive gift and suggested this form of address. Facing Xue Xun’s smiling gaze, she could only swallow her own thoughts.

Moreover, Xue Xun was six years older than her, so calling her “Jiejie”… seemed reasonable.

But Zhu Yiqiao’s next words stunned her.

“Change it.”

The stunned Ming Fei didn’t think too much about it, assuming Zhu Yiqiao simply didn’t like the form of address.

“Mm, okay.”

After replying, she repeated her question: “Jiejie, do you like the original version of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum?”

Zhu Yiqiao: “Mm.”

She agreed, but didn’t say she disliked the modified version, only asking Ming Fei another question after she received the answer.

“Besides Zaozao, have you given the original version of the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum to anyone else?”

Ming Fei’s eyes flickered slightly, her voice a little low: “Mm.”

Zhu Yiqiao calmly asked, “Who?”

Chapter 42: “Are You An Omega?” p1

The next day, as soon as the alarm rang, Ming Fei, who had already made plans for the day, got out of bed and washed up without delay, like a robot receiving a command.

Then, she picked up the sleepy Ming Zaozao and tied her hair while Zaozao washed up.

After getting dressed in the cloakroom, Ming Fei went downstairs with Ming Zaozao and left a message for Zhu Yiqiao on the third floor through 0619.

Because of the Yuan Xiu matter, and Ming Zaozao’s upcoming regular physical examination, Ming Fei had made an appointment for a full checkup at the First Hospital in the city center last night after sending a message to Zhu Yiqiao.

On the way from the living room to the garage, the cold wind instantly blew away Ming Zaozao’s sleepiness.

“Mommy~”

Ming Fei responded softly: “Mm?”

Ming Zaozao buried her face in Ming Fei’s neck and yawned.

“Baby is not cold, is Mommy cold?”

Ming Fei’s lips curved upwards: “No.”

“Mommy learned the magic of not being afraid of the cold!”

Ming Fei’s eyes crinkled with laughter: “Then what magic has Zaozao learned recently?”

The mother and daughter chatted innocently. Arriving at the garage, the black self-driving car quickly headed towards its destination.

Although it was a public holiday, medical staff were still working in some clinics at the hospital. According to the labor law of the Independent State of Yi Meng, these medical staff received five times the normal salary on public holidays and also enjoyed legal rest rights, with their working hours reduced by an hour and a half.

The examinations in the physical examination room were mostly assisted by intelligent robots, and there were very few medical staff on duty.

Because some tests required fasting, Ming Fei postponed breakfast by half an hour. But perhaps because they woke up early, Ming Zaozao’s stomach grumbled as soon as she finished the first test.

But she was very well-behaved, neither crying nor making a fuss. Even when pricked by a needle, she just hugged Ming Fei tightly, her round eyes like polished black glass.

After completing all the fasting blood tests as quickly as possible, Ming Fei took Ming Zaozao to the restaurant where her friend Li Xing had made a reservation.

As soon as they entered the restaurant, Ming Zaozao’s stomach grumbled again.

She touched her deflated belly and asked Ming Fei, puzzled,

“Is Mommy hungry?”

Ming Fei wasn’t actually hungry, but she nodded to appease her: “My tummy grumbled too, just a little quieter.”

Ming Zaozao believed her: “Then let’s hurry upstairs!”

“Okay.”

Guided by the hotel’s service robot, they went up to the private room 808 on the eighth floor. The door slowly opened, and Ming Zaozao immediately saw her favorite jujube cake on the dining table.

She happily ran towards Li Xing.

“Auntie Xing!”

The room temperature was comfortable. Ming Fei followed a few steps behind, taking off her coat and scarf and hanging them on the coat rack before walking towards the dining table.

Li Xing was rolling up Ming Zaozao’s sleeves. Seeing her friend approaching, her gossip senses tingled.

“Teacher Xiao Fei looks very happy~”

Ming Fei sat opposite them and, as usual, tried to change the subject: “How are things going with you and Secretary-General Wei recently?”

“Same as usual.” Li Xing said with a smile, “Still trying to change the subject with me?”

Ming Fei smiled sheepishly: “Let’s eat breakfast, Zaozao is hungry.”

The two chatted casually. Ming Zaozao was the most focused eater, her deflated belly regaining its roundness, her eyes brighter than they had been at the hospital.

After finishing her food, she tapped away on the display screen of her smartwatch, prompting Li Xing to ask,

“Zaozao, are you chatting with the robot at home?”

Ming Zaozao shook her head: “It’s Pretty Auntie!”

After saying that, she took off the smartwatch, unfolded the foldable display screen, turned it towards the two adults, and showed them her chat with Zhu Yiqiao.

[Zaozao: [Little lamb eating grass.gif]]

[Auntie: Zaozao, eat your fill.]

[Zaozao: [Two little bears hugging.gif]]

[Zaozao: [Sun comes out, fishing.gif]]

[Auntie: Zaozao, do you want to go fishing?]

[Zaozao: [Strawberry bear nodding.gif]]

[Auntie: I’ve asked 0619 to prepare.]

Seeing the screen full of emoji exchanges, Li Xing smiled: “Chief Judge Zhu is quite patient, chatting with Zaozao so enthusiastically.”

Ming Zaozao nodded: “Auntie is good to Baby!”

Ming Fei, having just finished her porridge, put down her spoon and looked over.

Ming Zaozao got down from her chair, hopped over to Ming Fei, and said in a childish voice,

“Mommy, can Baby add a few more for you?”

The so-called “add” referred to adding emojis. Ming Zaozao loved using these cartoon emojis. Whenever she received text messages from her mother or aunties, she would convert them to voice and then reply with emojis.

Sometimes it was voice messages, but more often than not, it was cartoon emojis that clearly expressed the meaning.

Ming Fei opened her phone and let her daughter add emojis: “Okay.”

“Mm-hmm!” Ming Zaozao looked up. “Baby will add moving ones for Mommy, a little bunny rolling around, so cute!”

Ming Fei stroked her little head: “Thank you, Zaozao.”

Room 808 had an excellent view. Sitting by the window on the right side, one could see the chilly Lake Gabe, the Saint Youla Flame Seed statue leading to the main urban area, and the North Harbor Hover Bridge spanning two nearby suburban areas.

Xi He City, the capital, was vast and expansive like a chessboard, and these easily recognizable natural landscapes and man-made structures were important pieces on the board.

Ming Fei looked around for a moment and was about to take a picture with her phone when she remembered that Ming Zaozao was still holding her phone.

She leaned closer to Ming Zaozao: “Zaozao.”

“Mommy!”

Ming Zaozao turned the phone to show her: “Mommy, look, Baby added so many for you!”

Ming Fei’s gaze shifted to the chat page.

[[Little rabbit eating carrots.gif]]

[[Little rabbit very angry.gif]]

[Zhu Yiqiao: What’s wrong?]

Seeing Zhu Yiqiao’s reply after receiving the two animated emojis, Ming Fei froze.

Then—

[[Puppy secretly peeking.gif]]

[[Puppy angrily bumping into you.gif]]

[Zhu Yiqiao: Zaozao?]

[Zhu Yiqiao: Have you finished breakfast?]

These animated emojis were all very cute, vastly different from the smiling emoji Ming Fei had frequently used a few months ago. She originally thought she had gotten used to these cartoon emojis, but seeing Zhu Yiqiao’s replies, she still felt a little embarrassed.

The tips of her ears even turned slightly pink.

She played a cartoon on her smartwatch, and Ming Zaozao’s attention was immediately captured, completely immersed in the cartoon world.

Meanwhile, she picked up her phone and explained to Zhu Yiqiao, her long eyelashes casting curved shadows beneath her eyes.

[Sorry, I disturbed you just now.]

[Zaozao is testing the newly added emojis. She’s already finished breakfast. I’ll take her back after the rest of the checkup.]

Looking at the sent message, Ming Fei hesitated for a moment, then added a static emoji she already had.

[[Kitten bowing apologetically.jpg]]

Before receiving a reply, Ming Fei heard her friend’s teasing voice.

“What is Teacher Xiao Fei doing?”

Ming Fei gave a brief explanation, her peripheral vision never leaving the chat page.

As a lecturer at Q University’s Philosophy Department, Li Xing’s area of expertise was classical philosophy. She suddenly looked at her friend Ming Fei seriously and said thoughtfully,

“Have I ever told you about Ferenya?”

Although Ming Fei wasn’t interested in philosophy, she had heard her friend mention many famous philosophers, and she believed that reading and learning more was necessary, because those whose names were recorded in compulsory courses must be shining stars in the history of human progress.

But she had never heard of this Ferenya.

“No,” she said.

Li Xing rested her chin on her clasped hands and said with interest, “The name Ferenya doesn’t appear in classical philosophy textbooks. She liked to study ethics and was once a university music teacher. She and her partner, Avabini, were rivals since childhood.”

“They confirmed their relationship at 20 and got married at 22.”

“Guess how Ferenya usually addressed her in Avabini’s letters?”

Hearing this, Ming Fei was a little puzzled, but she didn’t interrupt her friend’s enthusiasm. After some thought, she said a few common terms of endearment.

“Wrong.”

“Incorrect.”

“Unfortunately, still wrong.”

After several attempts were rejected, the answer to this question gradually aroused Ming Fei’s curiosity.

She tried again: “Could it be… Jiejie?”

Li Xing shook her head: “No.”

“Ferenya, who was extremely serious in the eyes of her students, was as obedient as a student in front of Avabini. She even addressed her lover as—Teacher.”

Li Xing teased, “When you replied to Chief Judge Zhu just now, you looked like a student called upon by the teacher. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought you were chatting with your own teacher.”

Ming Fei’s ears felt hot, and she suddenly remembered what had happened last night.

She thought, facing a fool who hadn’t taken specialized physiology classes and didn’t know anything, Zhu Yiqiao not only said she would teach her but also guided her step by step. These actions did… resemble a teacher.

Her phone suddenly vibrated, and Ming Fei looked down.

[Zhu Yiqiao: Apology accepted, but the kitten doesn’t need to bow.]

Inside the villa area, several kilometers away from the First Hospital.

After the highly secure door opened automatically, a flamboyant, red, modified hovercar drove into the garage.

Xue Xun took off her ruby-studded glasses. As soon as she poked her head out, she saw 0619.

0619 said, “Long time no see, Ms. Xue. Although the roses in the garden have withered after three months, your beauty is even more—”

Xue Xun got out of the car gracefully: “Stop, switch personality modes.”

When it spoke again, 0619’s tone was clearly much calmer: “Okay, please follow me.”

“Mm.”

Chapter 41: “Jiejie, Is This Pressure Okay?”

The silver-white security door opened automatically from the inside.

Countless rays of light streamed outwards, elongating Ming Fei’s shadow on the floor.

Ming Fei put her phone back into her pajama pocket, trying to appear more composed. But the moment she actually stepped into the master bedroom on the third floor, she still stiffened, her steps almost clumsy, like an experimental robot in its early stages of development.

After she fully entered the room, the security door automatically closed behind her.

This was the first time Ming Fei had entered Zhu Yiqiao’s bedroom. She maintained her politeness, not glancing around this private space.

As she stepped onto the soft carpet, she saw Zhu Yiqiao sitting by the sofa.

She didn’t hesitate, walking towards Zhu Yiqiao.

At this moment, Ming Fei had clearly entered the second phase of experimental development, her movements more agile, her expression no longer stiff.

Soon, she stopped in front of Zhu Yiqiao: “…Jiejie.”

Zhu Yiqiao, having just finished washing up, was wearing a plain black nightgown, the ends of her long, curly hair still damp.

She wore a pheromone bracelet identical to Ming Fei’s. The black nightgown was fastened by a single tie, her delicate, jade-like collarbone faintly visible.

Faintly, Ming Fei smelled a very light woody scent.

So faint that her pheromone bracelet didn’t react at all.

Ming Fei guessed that she must have been mistaken and suppressed her doubts, quietly observing Zhu Yiqiao’s movements.

“Is Zaozao asleep?” Zhu Yiqiao asked.

Ming Fei nodded: “She fell asleep twenty minutes ago.”

“Mm.”

Zhu Yiqiao closed the thick book in her hand and finally looked up at the person in front of her. Her gaze was still devoid of any particular emotion, like a calm sea, only likely to surge with waves after darkness fell.

Outside the window, the night was as cool as water, pitch black. In early November in the Independent State of Yi Meng, light snow had begun to fall, and the sleet weighed down the plants in the garden.

Ming Fei didn’t sit down, standing straight like a student called upon by the teacher.

After careful consideration, she decided to be more proactive.

After all, finishing early meant she could go back to sleep with Ming Zaozao sooner, and it wouldn’t delay Zhu Yiqiao’s rest either.

Therefore, Ming Fei, who usually waited, observed, and hid behind her safety valve, took the initiative today.

She asked, “Jiejie, what… should I do?”

“You don’t know anything at all?”

Ming Fei, having thought it through, was honest: “Mm. I roughly understand the concept of pheromone guidance, but the teacher didn’t explain the steps to us, and the basic physiology textbook didn’t cover this either.”

“Mm.”

Perhaps because she was in her private domain, Zhu Yiqiao’s voice was tinged with laziness.

She said, “I’ll teach you.”

Ming Fei had a serious learning attitude: “Sorry to trouble you, Jiejie.”

She asked, puzzled, “Then what should I do for the first step?”

“Do you see that cabinet over there?”

“Mm.”

“Go get the white gloves.”

Ming Fei replied, “Okay.”

She moved quickly. After bringing the item Zhu Yiqiao had specified, she watched as Zhu Yiqiao put on the white gloves from the Trial Court. For some reason, a strange sense of danger arose in her heart, as if those gloved hands would strangle her neck in the next moment.

Then, leaning down, revealing canine teeth, biting through her carotid artery, and finally slowly swallowing her whole.

Ming Fei was amused by her own absurd imagination.

She smiled, and Zhu Yiqiao, having put on the gloves, issued the next instruction.

“Sit next to me.”

“Okay.”

After sitting down, because they were closer, the tension and sense of danger in Ming Fei’s heart intensified.

She couldn’t explain why, her emotions all written on her face. When Zhu Yiqiao noticed that she was almost turning into the curled-up kitten emoji, a hint of confusion flickered in her eyes.

“Are you scared?”

Ming Fei shook her head seriously: “No.”

Zhu Yiqiao, remembering what Ming Zaozao had said, asked: “Afraid of pain?”

Ming Fei’s confidence wavered slightly: “No.”

Hearing this, Zhu Yiqiao didn’t press further, explaining, “Tonight is just a checkup. Dr. Tang said your gland’s condition is special, and it needs to be checked every night recently.”

“Jiejie, can I check it myself?”

“Do you know how?”

Of course, she knew how to simply look, but as for a proper checkup, that was another matter.

Ming Fei didn’t speak, pulling her long hair forward and adjusting the detection function of her pheromone bracelet to the highest level before turning her head and removing the suppressor patch, allowing Zhu Yiqiao to examine her gland.

“Is this okay?”

“Mm.”

Because she was facing the French window, Ming Fei could not only feel Zhu Yiqiao’s fingertips touching her, but also see her meticulous expression through the reflection in the window.

When Zhu Yiqiao’s fingertips touched the edge of her gland, Ming Fei could still pretend to be calm. As they gradually moved upwards along the edge, Ming Fei’s eyelashes trembled. When they reached the scar in the center, Ming Fei’s sweet pheromones overflowed.

The room was immediately filled with the scent of sweet pears.

“…Sorry, Jiejie.”

Zhu Yiqiao: “No need to apologize.”

“Mm.”

Ming Fei pursed her lips, feeling like a patient avoiding treatment. She had clearly wanted to write down “actively treat” in her diary every day this afternoon, but now, the checkup had just begun, and she was already softly asking,

“Jiejie, are you done checking?”

Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Does it hurt here?”

Ming Fei sensed for a moment: “No.”

“Here?”

Ming Fei answered truthfully, “It’s a little itchy.”

After asking two more similar questions, Zhu Yiqiao finally removed her fingertips from Ming Fei’s gland. She handed Ming Fei a prepared medical wipe, indicating for her to wipe the gland on the back of her neck.

“Thank you, Jiejie.”

Ming Fei quickly turned around and wiped, the tips of her ears noticeably red, even her long, loose hair couldn’t hide it.

Her thoughts began to wander—

Because if she continued to focus on her gland at this moment, having just undergone the examination, she would probably overheat.

She stared at the corner of the garden under the night light, the hazy snow and the red Bingjiao roses complementing each other, like a bonfire suddenly lit in the snow.

A unique and romantic beauty.

Ming Fei decided to pick two bunches of roses tomorrow morning, trim them, and put them in a glass vase on her and Ming Zaozao’s desks.

After carefully wiping her gland clean, Ming Fei turned around, about to politely express her thanks and leave, when she noticed that Zhu Yiqiao had suddenly become motionless.

Although Zhu Yiqiao’s expression and aura hadn’t changed, Ming Fei felt something was wrong.

She asked keenly, “Jiejie, are you feeling unwell?”

Zhu Yiqiao changed the subject: “Tonight’s checkup is over.”

The implication was that she could leave.

But Ming Fei was a little worried. She moved closer to Zhu Yiqiao and asked directly,

“What’s wrong, Jiejie?”

Zhu Yiqiao: “Don’t want to leave?”

Ming Fei shook her head and then nodded.

As their eyes met, Ming Fei didn’t look away, maintaining eye contact with Zhu Yiqiao, letting her scrutinize her.

After a minute-long standoff, Zhu Yiqiao softly revealed the reason for her discomfort.

“My shoulder was injured by a gunshot. Even after treatment in the medical pod, there’s still some aftereffect. Sometimes it hurts when the weather is bad.”

“You go back and rest first, I’ll be fine in a while.”

Ming Fei didn’t leave. She was usually very obedient, but sometimes very persistent. She sat next to Zhu Yiqiao, her eyes filled with concern, her voice lacking the tension from the gland examination.

“I’ve learned massage, Jiejie, do you mind if I take a look?”

Zhu Yiqiao suddenly thought of Ming Zaozao.

When they first lived together in Hui Fu Garden, Ming Zaozao had proudly said that her mommy could do anything and was the most amazing person in the world.

After getting to know Ming Fei during this time, and learning that she was the intelligent and delicate Skwiatowy, Zhu Yiqiao had gained a new understanding of her.

Therefore, she wasn’t surprised to hear that Ming Fei knew how to massage.

She just asked, “Where did you learn it?”

Ming Fei explained, “When I first joined the research institute, I worked with another professor to develop an elderly care robot, which is now widely used. When testing its massage function, I learned a little from the professional masseuse.”

She smiled shyly, “Of course, I’m still far from a professional masseuse, but if Jiejie needs it, I will study harder.”

Zhu Yiqiao: “Okay.”

“Then I’ll go prepare a hot compress for Jiejie.”

“Mm.”

Ming Fei moved quickly. Guided by Zhu Yiqiao, she went into the bathroom, got a towel, and prepared the hot compress in about five minutes.

Before proceeding to the next step, she asked,

“Jiejie, do I need to wear gloves?”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t say whether she needed to or not: “Begin.”

“Okay.”

Ming Fei was extremely focused, her gaze never wavering. While massaging, it was as if she wasn’t touching Zhu Yiqiao’s shoulder, but the robot core components she usually worked with. She wasn’t distracted by anything else from beginning to end.

There were no inappropriate or presumptuous thoughts, just occasional questions.

“Jiejie, does it hurt here?”

“Jiejie, is this pressure okay?”

“Jiejie, how does it feel now?”

…

When asking such questions, her almond eyes were clear and bright, filled with unconcealed concern. Anyone meeting such a gaze would soften.

Zhu Yiqiao’s expression remained unchanged, only answering her questions slowly and calmly. After the pain in her shoulder gradually subsided, the massage ended.

Ming Fei, having completed her task, smiled.

Before leaving, she repeatedly confirmed with Zhu Yiqiao whether it was effective and reminded her to cover herself with the blanket when sleeping to avoid catching a cold.

Her serious expression was even a little cute.

Zhu Yiqiao said calmly, “Mm, I know.”

“Then I’ll go downstairs. Jiejie, if you feel uncomfortable, just send me a message.”

At this moment, Ming Fei really resembled a canine, her eyes only on Zhu Yiqiao. If she had a fluffy tail, it would probably be wagging.

She seriously assured her, “I’ll keep my communication open.”

“Mm.”

Ming Fei: “Goodnight, Jiejie.”

“Goodnight.”

The large master bedroom fell silent again. The display suddenly lit up, and Zhu Yiqiao checked her messages, finding one from Ming Fei, who had just left.

[I want to pick some roses and put them in the study tomorrow. Jiejie, do you need any?]

[[Kitten offering flowers.jpg]]

Zhu Yiqiao lowered her head and replied. As she left the sofa area, her gaze swept over the cabinet on the right.

—There, the intelligent massage therapy machine that Dr. Tang had brought her was placed. It was much better than Ming Fei’s treatment and much more effective.

But strangely…

She hadn’t mentioned it at all.

And when Ming Fei tentatively offered, she didn’t immediately refuse.

Chapter 40: Pheromone Guidance p2

After dinner, Ming Fei watched cartoons with Ming Zaozao in the living room.

At first, she watched even more attentively than Ming Zaozao, but gradually, her attention began to wander, and Ming Zaozao started playing with Lego on the carpet.

Ming Fei didn’t leave.

She picked up the smart reader, clicked on the e-book library, and connected to the public network, trying to search for information on the ancient creature W1215304 from the ancient book.

But after twenty minutes of trying, she still found nothing.

Then, she logged into the Independent State of Yi Meng’s public data network and searched for relevant information again.

This attempt also ended in failure.

The two consecutive search failures didn’t make Ming Fei lose patience. She reopened the electronic version of the ancient book, located page 113, and stared at the introduction of the ancient creature on this page again and again.

Because she was so focused, she didn’t even notice her daughter moving to her side.

“Eh?”

Ming Zaozao said in surprise, “Mommy, why are you looking at this?”

Ming Fei caught a hint of strangeness in her daughter’s tone, as if she had seen this thing before.

She asked, “This? Zaozao, do you know it?”

Ming Zaozao nodded: “Mm-hmm! Baby has seen it.”

The question was confirmed, but Ming Fei froze, because this was clearly related to the mysterious research institute. And her daughter had actually seen this ancient creature, which only existed in ancient books, without her knowing.

This made Ming Fei, worried about her daughter’s safety, feel a chill down her spine.

She quickly hugged Ming Zaozao, checked her body and limbs for injuries, and asked anxiously, “Where did you see it, Zaozao?”

Ming Zaozao hummed: “Mommy, it was Auntie Yuan next door.”

“Once, Aunt Wang took Baby downstairs to play, and we met Auntie Yuan in the elevator.” Ming Zaozao, eating milk candy, struggled to organize her words. “Baby greeted her, and she was wearing a black bracelet with this on it.”

After checking, Ming Fei felt a little relieved. If it wasn’t so late now, she would even want to take Ming Zaozao to the hospital for a full checkup.

Ming Fei postponed this plan until tomorrow morning and placed the reader in front of Ming Zaozao, asking her to take another look.

“Zaozao, are you sure it’s this one?”

Ming Zaozao patted her round belly and assured her, “It’s this one! Baby is sure. Baby asked Auntie Yuan what it was, and she said… it was a magical animal!”

Hearing this, Ming Fei was even more certain that Ming Zaozao probably hadn’t made a mistake.

Because, besides this, Yuan Xiu, who lived in Hui Fu Garden, was a teacher at W University next door, and her research area was paleontology. And she had heard the information registrar downstairs mention that Yuan Xiu hadn’t originally been in the paleontology department, but had later transferred to W University’s Institute of Paleontology for some unknown reason.

Although she wasn’t yet sure if Yuan Xiu was related to the research institute, Ming Fei immediately sent this important information to Zhu Yiqiao.

She clearly described the whole story and attached a link to Yuan Xiu’s profile on W University’s official website. After sending the message, Ming Zaozao leaned against her, causing Ming Fei to accidentally touch an emoji.

So, an extra image was added to her message—

[[Little rabbit knocking on the door.jpg]]

“Mommy, Baby is sleepy~”

“Mm, then let’s go upstairs and rest.”

Ming Zaozao acted coquettishly: “Baby wants to sleep with Mommy tonight!”

“Okay.”

Ming Zaozao smiled like a bright sunflower.

Ming Fei picked up her daughter with one arm, no longer caring about retracting the little rabbit emoji. After returning to the bedroom on the second floor and washing up, Ming Fei softly told Ming Zaozao a bedtime story.

“…The king in the fairy tale finally defeated…”

Soon, Ming Zaozao fell asleep.

The room was quiet, the bed warm and comfortable, and the little one in her arms was still warm, all of which made Ming Fei drowsy.

Just as her consciousness was fading, the phone on the other side suddenly vibrated with a new message.

Ming Fei’s sleepiness instantly vanished.

She picked up her phone and glanced at it, finding that it was a message from Zhu Yiqiao.

[Thank you, I’ll have someone look into it.]

This message was received at 9:40 pm. She was washing up at the time, and after coming out, she hadn’t looked at her phone, picking up a storybook and coaxing Ming Zaozao to sleep.

And the latest message was received a minute ago.

[Come upstairs.]

Ming Fei rubbed her eyes and replied, a little puzzled,

[Is it about Yuan Xiu?]

The other party’s reply made Ming Fei’s remaining sleepiness disappear completely.

[Pheromone guidance.]

Ming Fei’s eyelashes trembled, like a little sparrow that had strayed into a lotus pond, flapping its wings helplessly.

…So soon?

She didn’t know anything, hadn’t prepared anything.

Calling her a blank slate wasn’t an exaggeration.

Because of her anxiety and nervousness, Ming Fei remembered the question she had asked that afternoon.

At that time, she had asked Zhu Yiqiao for a reason, and Zhu Yiqiao had directly listed the various pheromone disorders that could be caused by not undergoing pheromone guidance.

All the listed pheromone disorders were, without exception, extremely serious, eventually even leading to a shortened lifespan and death.

And Zhu Yiqiao had frankly said that she didn’t want Ming Zaozao to lose her mother, and told her that pheromone guidance was also compensation for her cooperation in acting intimate and playing the part.

Perhaps she had been too surprised at the time, or perhaps too confused and bewildered, that in the end, she had blurted out a question to Zhu Yiqiao.

“If it were someone else, would you also help them like this?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she didn’t even understand why she had asked that. She subconsciously wanted to apologize, because this question had crossed the line, and it also made her seem ungrateful and unreasonable, like a fool who didn’t know her place or appreciate her kindness.

But Zhu Yiqiao actually answered her.

“—No.”

After saying that, Zhu Yiqiao left, leaving her alone in the room, still in a state of confusion.

Now, another message popped up in the notification box.

[Come directly to the bedroom.]

Ming Fei’s ears felt hot after reading the message.

She repeatedly edited her reply, typing and deleting, deleting and typing again, and finally only sent two words and an emoji.

[Okay.]

[[Kitten teleporting.jpg]]

Before getting out of bed, Ming Fei covered the sleeping Ming Zaozao with the blanket and placed the little lamb plush toy she had brought with her on Zaozao’s right side. As the door closed, Ming Fei’s shadow flitted across the corridor.

The sensor wall lamp along the corridor automatically turned on.

She walked towards the stairs leading to the third floor, her heart beating faster and faster as she approached her destination.

Finally arriving at the bedroom on the third floor, Ming Fei glanced at the heart rate data on her pheromone bracelet and found that her heart rate had reached 130 beats per minute.

This was really… too fast.

She pursed her lips, not pressing the doorbell, but choosing to send a message to Zhu Yiqiao.

[Jiejie, I’m outside the bedroom door.]

[[Kitten peeking.jpg]]

In the dim light, Ming Fei was still looking down at the chat window, and the security door, the next moment after the message was sent, opened as if it had sensed her presence.

A new message arrived immediately.

[Come in.]

Chapter 40: Pheromone Guidance p1

Although her knowledge of differentiation was limited, combined with the supplementary explanation that followed, the so-called pheromone guidance and co-regulation weren’t difficult to understand.

Ming Fei was stunned.

She even suspected that she had misheard, because… judging from Zhu Yiqiao’s expression, she didn’t seem to be against pheromone guidance.

As they looked at each other in silence, Ming Fei’s chaotic thoughts gradually cleared.

She first asked the most important question: “…Jiejie, I want to know why the doctors in this world would make such a judgment? Do they know about the existence of the Ole Empire?”

Zhu Yiqiao’s tone remained unchanged, as if she was stating a commonplace fact.

“Mm.”

“Not them, but a very small number of people, led by the King.”

“Dr. Tang, who diagnosed your condition, is the chief researcher at the National Academy of Sciences, and also my personal physician.”

She continued unhurriedly, “Besides us, there are other transmigrators from different space-times in this world, such as Xue Xun, whom you met at the hotel in Taiya. She comes from a post-apocalyptic world.”

Ming Fei, suddenly receiving so much important information, completely forgot about pheromone guidance.

She asked uncertainly, “The end of the world?”

“Mm.”

Ming Fei had read several classic apocalyptic novels and knew that this world had experienced a virus crisis a hundred years ago, but when asked to imagine a real apocalypse, she still shook her head with pity.

Because life was precious, respectable, and supremely important.

After learning that Xue Xun actually came from a post-apocalyptic world, she expressed her admiration from the bottom of her heart: “Ms. Xue is truly amazing.”

After saying that, she remembered the most crucial matter, the tips of her porcelain-white ears tinged with a light glaze pink.

“…Jiejie, is pheromone guidance the only option?”

“Mm.”

Ming Fei didn’t even dare to look at her. After all, the previous practice and intimacy were just an act, clearly stipulated in the contract. Every time they practiced or put on an act, she required herself to be a dutiful Party B, completing all tasks based on fulfilling her obligations seriously.

And pheromone guidance was an additional need of hers as Party B, not included in the contract.

Zhu Yiqiao had no obligation to help her.

Ming Fei tentatively asked, “Will there be any life-threatening danger if I don’t undergo pheromone guidance?”

Zhu Yiqiao asked in return, “What if there isn’t?”

Ming Fei’s eyes lit up: “Then there’s no need for guidance. I’ll find a way to adjust myself.”

Zhu Yiqiao, standing three steps away, looked down at Ming Fei. Her gaze swept over Ming Fei’s bandaged palm, and she suddenly remembered the scene in the hovercar.

The alpha, who should have lost control, didn’t hesitate to injure herself to maintain her consciousness and rationality, and even comforted her.

This was very much in line with… the impression Skwiatowy had left on her.

Meeting again in a different space-time after nearly thirteen years, she wasn’t actually as calm and indifferent as she appeared. After all… Skwiatowy was different from other friends in her heart.

Intelligent.

Gentle.

Delicate.

A thirteen-year-old girl who could be described with these words, and who hadn’t even differentiated yet. And because of the three-year age difference, she had treated Skwiatowy as a little sister who needed protection.

She had even thought, in the eleventh month of knowing her, that if they had the chance to meet in the future, after Skwiatowy differentiated into an omega, she would definitely give her a gun and teach her how to use it to protect herself before leaving.

But she hadn’t expected—

That Skwiatowy would differentiate into an alpha, and that in their first meeting in the Independent State of Yi Meng, Skwiatowy would point a gun at her head.

“Jiejie.”

The voice of the person in front of her brought Zhu Yiqiao back to her thoughts, and then the question came again.

“…Can I really do that?”

Zhu Yiqiao felt that Ming Fei’s thoughts were really easy to guess.

Her emotions and thoughts were all written in her eyes, and sometimes even directly on her face.

Like now, Ming Fei’s eyes were filled with a smile, the joy of not needing pheromone guidance, and even a hint of expectation for her affirmation.

And these smiles and expectations vanished with her next answer.

“—No.”

She explained, “Pheromone guidance is the best solution at the moment. If you don’t undergo guidance and let your pheromones remain in an extreme state, it might induce pheromone disorders and other pheromone-related illnesses.”

The burning hope was extinguished.

Ming Fei still clung to the remaining spark, trying to find other solutions.

“Does Dr. Tang think pheromone guidance is possible between two alphas?”

“Yes.”

Ming Fei, forced into a corner, her clear almond eyes filled with complex and difficult emotions, didn’t hide her doubts, but asked directly,

“Then… why is Jiejie willing to help me?”

“Although I don’t know the specific steps of pheromone guidance, I remember the teacher saying that it’s a rather intimate pheromone contact, and Jiejie just said that it would be accompanied by some intimate contact if necessary.”

Zhu Yiqiao asked in return, “Do you need a reason?”

Ming Fei explained, “Because Jiejie has helped me so many times, but I haven’t really helped Jiejie, and… you also added a new rule prohibiting me from releasing pheromones in front of you before. I thought you hated my pheromone scent, so I wanted to understand the reason.”

“If it’s a mutually beneficial exchange of help, even if you don’t guide me, I would be very willing to help you.”

Zhu Yiqiao calmly looked at Ming Fei.

She didn’t plan to tell Ming Fei now that she was One Raccoon Hill from “Supporters of the Rose,” because after her omega mother changed her identity, everything belonging to Eloris had been erased.

Including the identity of One Raccoon Hill.

This wasn’t part of her plan back then. Her original plan was indeed to fake her death, change her identity, and apply to the Southern Military Academy, but she hadn’t planned to disappear from Tree of Mystical Jade’s world.

But her mother had arranged everything for her before she died, and she hadn’t had time to tell the housekeeper who sent her away—that she wanted to keep one account, at least for one more day.

Before she could make this request, all the data had been erased as quickly as possible by the people her mother had arranged.

At that time, the matter was settled, and she could only try to register a new account on “Supporters of the Rose” after settling down at the Southern Military Academy and find Tree of Mystical Jade to explain the reason for her disappearance.

But when she logged into “Supporters of the Rose,” she found that Tree of Mystical Jade’s account… had been deleted.

From then on, the orange cat avatar and the white dog avatar never lit up again in the snowy nights, worlds apart.

Now, a long time had passed, and she wasn’t sure what telling Ming Fei her identity would bring.

Happiness or sadness.

Surprise or shock.

Faced with this uncertainty, she decided to keep it a secret and not disturb Ming Fei’s current life.

---

When Ming Zaozao returned to the villa, she was greeted by Ming Fei’s gentle smile.

The cold wind blew, flipping up the hood of Ming Zaozao’s coat. She ran towards Ming Fei, the little panda backpack behind her swinging its long tail, and the ears on both sides flapping in the wind.

“Mommy!!”

Ming Fei picked her up, her eyes crinkling with a smile: “Zaozao has grown taller.”

“Mm-hmm!” Ming Zaozao proudly raised her head. “Baby has grown two centimeters. Auntie Manman said that Baby will grow another twenty centimeters soon!”

“Wow.” Ming Fei pretended to be amazed. “So amazing.”

Ming Zaozao’s round eyes curved into crescents with her smile, her dimples deepening. As Ming Fei raised her hand to readjust her hat, she gave Ming Fei a kiss on the cheek.

“Baby missed Mommy so much.”

Ming Fei said, “I missed Zaozao very much too.”

Ming Zaozao became even happier, chattering about the new toys she had received recently all the way, and only noticing the white gauze on Ming Fei’s palm after entering the living room.

Both mother and daughter sat on the sofa.

Ming Zaozao frowned with worry: “Mommy, what happened here?”

Of course, Ming Fei couldn’t tell Ming Zaozao that she had intentionally cut herself. So, she decided to make up a white lie to divert Ming Zaozao’s attention and make her happier.

“I accidentally fell, it will be completely healed in a few days.”

Ming Zaozao’s face crumpled, the smile in her eyes instantly disappearing.

She held Ming Fei’s injured left hand, then lowered her head and blew on it, murmuring softly,

“Blow, blow, pain fly away.”

“Mommy, no more pain.”

Ming Fei’s heart softened, and she pinched her daughter’s little round face with her other hand.

The usually quiet 008 was recording this moment with its recording function. 0619 was patrolling the villa area outside in the garden. Zhu Yiqiao, having finished her urgent official business, happened to see this scene as she came downstairs.

She stopped in her tracks.

At the same time, Ming Fei, noticing Zhu Yiqiao from the corner of her eye, greeted her calmly.

“Jiejie, are you done with your work?”

Zhu Yiqiao replied, “Mm.”

Ming Zaozao also looked over: “Pretty Auntie, Baby is back!”

Zhu Yiqiao walked towards them: “Zaozao, did you have fun at Auntie Min Man’s house?”

“Super fun~”

Ming Zaozao, having blown away the pain, got down from the sofa and reached out to Zhu Yiqiao, wanting to be held.

Zhu Yiqiao picked her up.

Then—

Ming Zaozao asked softly, “Auntie, when did Mommy fall?”

Ming Fei winked at Zhu Yiqiao, hinting that she should say two days ago.

Zhu Yiqiao said softly, “Two days ago.”

Ming Zaozao nodded, seemingly still worried about it, and even said to Zhu Yiqiao,

“Auntie, next time you go to work with Mommy, can you help remind Mommy?”

“Mommy is very afraid of pain, super afraid of pain, Baby doesn’t want her to get hurt.”

Zhu Yiqiao replied, “Okay.”

“Then pinky promise!”

“Mm.”

Ming Fei, watching them make a pinky promise, felt a little embarrassed by her daughter secretly saying that she was super afraid of pain.

But it was true.

Her pain receptors were more sensitive than ordinary people’s. Ordinary pain felt several times stronger on her, so much so that during the time her gland was injured, every time the pain flared up, it would torment her to tears.

Fortunately, the other people in the ward knew that the pain level of a damaged gland was the highest, and even painkillers were useless against it.

So no one said she was a crybaby, and the nurse would even give her an extra pack of wet wipes to wipe her face.

 

Chapter 39: Ming Fei Is Actually—

Before Chief Zhu of the Southern Military Academy appeared, Princess Eloris of the northern Anrui family, for various reasons, had to attend the Omega Noble Academy.

At that time, Princess Eloris was only sixteen years old. Her striking black hair and blue eyes, and her beautiful, aggressive face, made her accustomed to wearing a custom-made mask during her studies.

She would get full marks in every course, be gentle and polite in front of the teachers, and get along amicably with her fellow omega classmates in public.

But in reality—

She was a member of the Mehertaer faction.

Since its establishment, the Omega Noble Academy had served the Ole Empire and was a loyal supporter of royal power and the Kerry Declaration. The Mehertaer faction, however, had openly opposed the Kerry Declaration for hundreds of years, their philosophy and actions diametrically opposed to those of the Omega Noble Academy.

Eloris, who received awards from the Omega Academy during the day, would switch identities at night, logging into the Mehertaer faction’s intranet, completely free from the rules of the Omega Academy.

And all of this destined her to never become friends with the other omegas at school.

Most omegas had been trained by the school to be tools, taking pride in marrying excellent alphas. They attended impractical courses day after day, like beautiful and fragile porcelain.

Once they left the safety of their protective bubble and faced the storm alone, they would waver, stumble, fall, and even shatter.

Eloris had tried to discuss topics other than alphas with the omegas, but most of them showed little interest and even looked at her strangely.

Those looks seemed to say—

How could Princess Eloris say such things?

Has Princess Eloris gone mad? Has she become a freak?

So, Eloris never had any other communication with the omegas at school.

Life in the northern region of the Ole Empire was peaceful. Although nearly half of the year was accompanied by heavy snow, the Anrui family castle was always protected from the wind and snow.

However, one day, Eloris saw her omega mother come home amidst the wind and snow, her mother’s pale fingertips colder than the snowflakes on her hat.

Eloris didn’t know what had happened.

It wasn’t until she heard her two mothers arguing at night that she learned that her alpha mother had been unfaithful again.

Eloris didn’t know how to persuade her omega mother to divorce, because she had already tried fifty-two times when her alpha mother first cheated.

No matter how she tried to persuade her, her omega mother remained silent.

Soon, the arguing in the living room stopped, and Eloris quietly returned to her study.

Her long black curly hair fell onto the desk. Eloris pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the photo under the lamp.

After a moment, she put the family photo into the drawer, then took out her communicator and logged into the Mehertaer faction’s intranet, checking the latest news.

The snowy night was quiet, and soon it was bedtime. Eloris returned to her bedroom and lay down.

When the door was pushed open, Eloris closed her eyes.

She was already very skilled at pretending to be asleep, because her omega mother would occasionally come to her room to check if she had gone to bed on time, to ensure she had enough energy to study for the new courses the next day.

This night was like any other, her omega mother only staying for a minute.

When the door clicked softly closed, Eloris, pretending to be asleep, opened her eyes.

She would usually use this fragmented free time for strength training, to ensure she could join the Southern Military Academy after completing her plan.

But perhaps because her mothers’ argument and tears lingered in her mind, she took out her communicator and quietly looked at the window. Seeing a hazy glow, she opened “Supporters of the Rose” for the first time.

This was a platform created by supporters of the Mehertaer faction.

Unlike the members of the Mehertaer faction, the supporters were often restricted by certain conditions and couldn’t truly join the faction.

The reason Eloris knew about the existence of “Supporters of the Rose” was entirely because many members of the Mehertaer faction had recommended this platform on the intranet, and many members were even very active on it.

Opening the regular registration page of “Supporters of the Rose,” Eloris randomly chose a system cat avatar and entered a four-character nickname. Without adding any text to her personal introduction, she clicked on the homepage.

Unlike the solemn atmosphere of the Mehertaer faction’s public network, the atmosphere on “Supporters of the Rose” was relaxed and friendly, and many supporters were closely following the new developments of the Mehertaer faction.

After reading some of the supporters’ interpretation posts, Eloris was about to exit “Supporters of the Rose.”

Just as her fingertip was about to touch the exit button, her gaze paused on the nickname of a recommended account.

[Tree of Mystical Jade]

If she remembered correctly, this nickname should come from the same book as hers, and that book wasn’t a bestseller, and very few people read it now.

But Eloris liked it, because the content of that book was rich and colorful, and it didn’t involve anything about the Ole Empire, not even a hint of implicit domestication.

Curiosity made her gaze linger on the nickname for a moment.

But it was only for a moment. She didn’t even click on the personal page of “Tree of Mystical Jade,” just glanced at it and exited “Supporters of the Rose.”

The second time she logged in was after the Mehertaer faction announced the new regulations for the North.

Eloris saw the nickname “Tree of Mystical Jade” again in the likes list of a post.

Then, the nearby recommendations system of “Supporters of the Rose” … even recommended “Tree of Mystical Jade” to her.

The nearby recommendations function of “Supporters of the Rose” had many recognized bugs. For example, the North and South, two regions half a world apart, were also considered adjacent areas in “Supporters of the Rose.”

Eloris was about to exit when a new message popped up in the notification box.

[22:45, December 27, user Tree of Mystical Jade liked your new post ^^]

Eloris was a little confused because she hadn’t posted anything. What did “Tree of Mystical Jade” like?

She clicked on the detailed page of the system message and saw that she… had automatically published a post ten minutes ago.

[Today is the sixteenth day since One Raccoon Hill registered on Supporters of the Rose. Nice to meet everyone ^^]

Eloris had already been lying in her soft and comfortable bed.

After seeing the automatically published post, she quickly got out of bed and took out her cherished book, confirming that the name “Tree of Mystical Jade” did indeed come from the same book as hers, even the same chapter and page. Without much hesitation, following the principle of reciprocity, she clicked on the system dog avatar of “Tree of Mystical Jade.”

Coincidences followed one after another.

The personal page of “Tree of Mystical Jade” was also blank, with only an automatic system message identical to hers.

[Today is the sixteenth day since Tree of Mystical Jade registered on Supporters of the Rose. Nice to meet everyone ^^]

She closed the book and liked the automatic post of “Tree of Mystical Jade.”

The next moment—

A new system notification popped up.

[Tree of Mystical Jade followed you~]

Princess Eloris, who had received full marks in social etiquette class at the Omega Noble Academy, had never met anyone who liked to read “Records of Ancient Mountains.” Not only did she follow back this “Tree of Mystical Jade” who registered on the same day as her, but she also took the initiative to send a message.

[One Raccoon Hill: Hello, do you also like to eat pears?]

Pears were Eloris’s favorite fruit, but her alpha mother believed that pears were too common, too ordinary, and too cheap to reflect the noble style of the Anrui family, let alone be a noble’s favorite.

Therefore, her alpha mother concealed her true preference and publicly declared that her favorite was Lizhu, the most expensive specialty of the Ole Empire.

And in the description of “Records of Ancient Mountains,” One Raccoon Hill was covered with pear trees, and there were many raccoon cats guarding the mountain. Whenever the pear trees blossomed and bore fruit, One Raccoon Hill would be filled with sweet pears.

So, Eloris, who loved pears, used this as her nickname.

Tree of Mystical Jade replied very quickly.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: What a coincidence, hello, pears are delicious. The Tree of Mystical Jade is a divine tree that grows on the top of One Raccoon Hill, representing freedom and courage. Its branches and leaves are not made of wood and leaves, but jade and crystals, signifying indestructibility.]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Of course~ the main reason for choosing this nickname is—my name happens to have a character related to jade and crystals ^^]

Eloris understood and replied.

[One Raccoon Hill: I understand, sorry to disturb you.]

The white system dog avatar moved.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: No disturbance at all, nice to meet you.]

Eloris politely replied.

[One Raccoon Hill: Nice to meet you too.]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: [Happy.jpg]]

Eloris exited “Supporters of the Rose.”

---

A month later, when Eloris logged into “Supporters of the Rose” again, she had made significant progress in her secret plan.

As soon as she logged in, the system’s automatic reminder message popped up.

[Congratulations to One Raccoon Hill, today is the thirtieth day since you and Tree of Mystical Jade followed each other! Send a message to continue your friendship~]

Eloris accidentally clicked the reminder message, and the system automatically redirected her to Tree of Mystical Jade’s personal page.

She was about to exit when she noticed that Tree of Mystical Jade had posted a new update at noon today.

It was a clear and straightforward picture.

There was nothing else in the picture, only a beautiful drum.

Eloris had seen this kind of drum when she was a child. At that time, she had traveled to the remote border with her omega mother, and her mother bought one for her because she liked it. But her orchid drum had been lost on the way back, and it was different from the one in the picture.

The drum in the picture was more exquisite and eye-catching, every detail perfectly crafted, and the color was also a little different.

Eloris glanced at the number of followers Tree of Mystical Jade had and found that after a month, she was still the only one. She liked the picture.

Then—

She sent another message.

[One Raccoon Hill: Hello, sorry to disturb you. May I ask where you bought this drum?]

Tree of Mystical Jade happened to be online, the white system dog avatar lit up.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Hello, do you like it?]

Eloris replied honestly.

[One Raccoon Hill: Mm.]

[One Raccoon Hill: Did you buy it near the border?]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: No~]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: I made it myself :)]

Eloris had originally thought that Tree of Mystical Jade was about the same age as her. After receiving this new message, she guessed that the other party might be a professional drum maker with extensive experience in the field.

[One Raccoon Hill: Hello, may I ask how old are you?]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Thirteen.]

Eloris paused, realizing that the other party was three years younger than her. She suppressed the urge to order one.

Perhaps because she seemed very interested, Tree of Mystical Jade sent her a few more messages.

[Tree of Mystical Jade: Thank you for liking it.]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: I accidentally spilled some grape juice on it while making it, so I just dyed the whole drum surface light purple. You can’t see the purple indoors, but it becomes more obvious in sunlight~]

[Tree of Mystical Jade: I named it the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum ^^]

Attached to the message were two pictures taken in sunlight. Eloris clicked on them and looked, finding the drum even more exquisite.

And someone who could make such a beautiful drum definitely wouldn’t be an alpha. She thought.

So, the sixteen-year-old One Raccoon Hill and the thirteen-year-old Tree of Mystical Jade gradually opened up to each other, talking about the orchid drum. Although most of the time it was Tree of Mystical Jade who sent more messages, One Raccoon Hill’s replies were few and concise.

But as supporters of the Mehertaer faction, they did have more contact from then on.

As the frequency of their chats gradually increased from once a month, to once every half a month, once a week, once every three days, and finally to once every two days, almost six months had passed.

In the tenth month—

When Eloris logged into “Supporters of the Rose,” the system, which sent a reminder every month, promptly sent her a notification.

[Congratulations to One Raccoon Hill, today is the 240th day since you and Tree of Mystical Jade followed each other! Send a message to continue your friendship~]

So—

After staring at Tree of Mystical Jade’s name for a moment, Eloris changed her nickname for the contact.

[Skwiatowy]

This was a word from a remote tribe in the South, meaning “little flower drum.”

In the eleventh month, there was a particularly heavy snowfall in the North.

In the twelfth month, another scandal broke out in the Anrui family in the North.

At the beginning of the thirteenth month, the heavy snow in the North buried Eloris Anrui, the princess, and the grape-faced bellflower orchid drum that hadn’t yet been received, sent by Tree of Mystical Jade.

From then on, the snow sealed away Eloris and One Raccoon Hill, and a new outstanding top student appeared in the Southern Military Academy.

---

Time flew by.

At the beginning of the thirteenth year after they lost contact, the memories belonging to One Raccoon Hill were awakened again. Zhu Yiqiao, who had been the Chief Judge for two years, at the peak of her power, and always calm and collected, was momentarily stunned.

Because all of this was too coincidental.

As coincidental as the initial genetic match.

Could this alpha, who came from the same world as her, met her in the same country after transmigrating, and had a daughter with her by chance, really be… Skwiatowy?

The moment their eyes met, Zhu Yiqiao stared intently at the person on the bed.

Ming Fei, being stared at, was a little confused. She looked away, glancing at her surroundings, and after confirming that she was back in the villa in the Independent State of Yi Meng, she looked back at Zhu Yiqiao, who was walking towards her.

It was already five o’clock in the afternoon.

The setting sun hung at the edge of the sea level, dyeing the sunset orange, gold, and warm yellow, like fragrant popcorn that hadn’t been evenly colored after popping.

A few rays of sunlight streamed through the French windows of the balcony, falling on Zhu Yiqiao’s white shirt.

Her proportions were excellent, a perfect nine-head-to-body ratio. The top button of her shirt, usually buttoned to the top, was now undone. The hem was tucked into her belt, and she wore dark boots that matched the Trial Court uniform.

Noble, cold, sharp, like a drawn blade.

Ming Fei, waking from her sleep, watched her approach and gave her a light smile.

“Jiejie.”

Zhu Yiqiao stopped three steps away from the bed.

“Mm.” Her voice was low as she replied and asked, “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Ming Fei shook her head: “I feel okay now.”

Then, she asked, “How long was I unconscious?”

“Twenty hours.”

Ming Fei was a little surprised, but didn’t show it, after all, her symptoms were very strange, and there was no cure in this world.

She just asked, “Does Zaozao know?”

“She just found out that we’re back.”

Ming Fei said, “Then I’ll go pick Zaozao up.”

Zhu Yiqiao looked at her, and Ming Fei inexplicably felt that her gaze was a little complicated, suddenly thinking that perhaps her condition was very bad.

She tentatively asked, “…Is my situation very serious?”

Zhu Yiqiao didn’t say a word.

Ming Fei moved her wrist and realized that the pheromone bracelet was a different model, and there was a band-aid on the back of her hand, clearly indicating that she had been given some kind of injection before waking up.

Looking at her bandaged palm, her thoughts spiraling towards the worst-case scenario, Zhu Yiqiao suddenly enlarged the photo of Ming Zaozao holding the drum and asked,

“Did you make this drum?”

Ming Fei looked up, a little puzzled, but still nodded honestly.

“Mm, I did.”

For a moment, Ming Fei felt that Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze became even more complicated.

“Why is it different from the previous one?”

Ming Fei’s eyes were clear as she said, “When I first made it for Zaozao, I couldn’t find the right materials, so I had to make a modified version for her to play with. Last time, Jiejie said you liked that drum, and she wanted to give it to you. When I went to buy the materials again, I happened to find them.”

“But I thought Jiejie would prefer the modified version, so I only made an original version for Zaozao.”

Zhu Yiqiao asked again, “What kind of drum is this?”

Ming Fei said, word by word, “It’s a flower drum I designed myself when I was thirteen. Its name is the Grape-faced Bellflower Orchid Drum.”

Just as she finished speaking, the few rays of sunlight faded, and the sensor lights in the room automatically turned on.

After a moment of silence, Ming Fei finally heard Zhu Yiqiao answer the question she was most concerned about, her condition.

“…It’s not serious.”

“The doctor said that with active treatment, you’ll recover.”

Ming Fei’s attention was completely focused on the last sentence—with active treatment, you’ll recover.

She immediately decided to write down the twelve words “follow the doctor’s orders, take medicine on time, and actively treat” in her memo pad, diary, and daily to-do list.

The flame of hope was burning.

Ming Fei asked happily, “Jiejie, then how should I treat it?”

“—Pheromone guidance and co-regulation.”

Zhu Yiqiao looked at her and said, “If necessary, it will be accompanied by intimate acts, such as holding hands, hugging, and kissing, for guidance.”