Chapter 51: “Ming Fei, Kiss Me.”
—What should she do?
In their past interactions, whenever the pheromone-knowledge-deficient Ming Fei asked Zhu Yiqiao a question, Zhu Yiqiao would always give a definite answer.
Facing the unfamiliar territory of pheromones, Ming Fei was like a kite floating in the air, and Zhu Yiqiao was the person holding the kite string tightly.
But at this moment, when Ming Fei looked at Zhu Yiqiao, lost and struggling, Zhu Yiqiao suddenly asked in return,
“What do you think?”
Ming Fei’s ears turned red.
She… wasn’t sure, which was why she had asked Zhu Yiqiao, because Zhu Yiqiao knew more about these things, but the other party asked her back.
Facing someone who seemed genuinely puzzled, Ming Fei’s professional instincts as a teacher made her respond gently and meticulously, as if answering a student’s question in school. Only this time, she was truly bewildered and uncertain, her tone lacking the usual confidence she had in her own professional field.
“Jiejie told me in Taiya that an alpha’s pre-heat symptoms can be suppressed and alleviated with suppressants and pheromone bracelets. If that method doesn’t work, then a temporary marking is needed.”
Her speech slowed, as if hesitating: “But Jiejie said on the phone last week that you’ve been using suppressants for too long and have developed resistance and negative side effects. If you continue using suppressants now, they might not be as effective as expected.”
Zhu Yiqiao said lightly, “There are no more suppressants on the third floor.”
Ming Fei immediately responded, “I still have some in my room, Jiejie, do you need them?”
“The suppressants I use are different from yours.”
Zhu Yiqiao explained, “Dr. Tang developed two types of suppressants. One is the regular suppressant you use, and the other has a stronger suppressing effect. I usually use regular suppressants for pheromone fluctuations or abnormalities. Only the enhanced suppressants are effective when a heat cycle is approaching or during the pre-heat phase.”
Ming Fei paused and said softly, “Then… only a temporary marking is left.”
The cedar and fir trees, thriving amidst the spreading pear fragrance, trembled slightly as if a gentle breeze had blown past, like the joyful satisfaction of a certain desire. Zhu Yiqiao looked at Ming Fei, her cold gaze quickly sweeping over her forehead, almond eyes, straight nose, cheeks, and lips, not wanting to startle the relaxed rabbit. She asked slowly,
“Do you know how?”
Ming Fei’s ears turned even redder: “No.”
She really didn’t.
The marking process was covered in the advanced physiology class after differentiation, but there was also a brief description in the basic physiology textbook. Ming Fei thought that perhaps the marking between alphas and alphas was the same, and even if she didn’t know how, they could take it slow, and she could learn.
But she didn’t voice her thoughts, always letting Zhu Yiqiao take the lead.
Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Are you willing?”
Ming Fei nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken: “Mm, Jiejie has helped me, I’m very willing to help Jiejie.”
Ripples appeared in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes: “Come closer.”
“Okay.”
The distance between them completely disappeared, and Ming Fei’s heart pounded. She didn’t know what Zhu Yiqiao was going to do, and she couldn’t control the overflowing of her pheromones. She only knew that her heart rate was very fast at this moment, so fast that it broke her previous record.
She pursed her lips, trying to explain her situation to Zhu Yiqiao.
“Jiejie, my pheromones have been very stable this week, basically no fluctuations. But after sensing Jiejie’s pheromones, they became uncontrollable.”
“Mm.” Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Do you know why?”
“I don’t know.”
Zhu Yiqiao asked slowly, “Really don’t know?”
Ming Fei was stumped.
She thought for a moment. Whenever Zhu Yiqiao wasn’t around, her pheromones were quiet, like little pear blossoms on branches. But when she met Zhu Yiqiao, when she was close to Zhu Yiqiao, her pheromones would start to fluctuate, then gradually become difficult to control, and finally even lose control.
Why was this happening?
What was the reason?
As she let her mind wander, the pear trees growing among the cedar and fir trees suddenly blossomed, and after blooming, immediately bore fruit.
The sweet pear fragrance filled the snowy forest. When the rich woody scent approached, the snow-white, sweet pears remained quiet and obedient, letting it surround and envelop them. Even when the woody scent grew stronger, turning into a playful raccoon cat circling and licking, the pears just shyly rolled in place.
Zhu Yiqiao’s voice rang out at the right time.
“The state of pheromones is closely related to the differentiated individual. Do you really not sense it?”
Hearing this, Ming Fei’s face flushed red.
Although she didn’t know why, at this moment, she clearly sensed the signal her pheromones were sending—they liked Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones, liked the woody scent that was approaching.
Ming Fei’s eyelashes fluttered, a little embarrassed, but still honest.
“I sense it.”
Zhu Yiqiao didn’t ask her the reason: “Mm.”
Ming Fei habitually changed the subject: “Then what should we do next?”
The snow pear was gently circled by the raccoon cat’s tail. Chief Judge Zhu, with ulterior motives, didn’t tease Ming Fei any further, but extended her hand and said,
“Hold my hand.”
“My self-control is not bad. This situation hasn’t reached the point where a temporary marking is absolutely necessary.”
Ming Fei tightly held her right hand: “But… it still needs to be alleviated.”
Otherwise, it would be very uncomfortable.
She had experienced that discomfort in Taiya, and she didn’t want Zhu Yiqiao to go through the same pain.
“Mm.” Zhu Yiqiao also held her hand tightly. “Pheromone guidance is not only a way to help control pheromones, but to a certain extent, it can also alleviate pre-heat symptoms.”
Ming Fei’s slightly round almond eyes were filled with confusion.
“Then why isn’t it written in the books?”
“Because this requires an alpha to have very strong self-control. You’ve taken basic physiology classes, you should know how uncontrollable an alpha can be when their heat cycle is approaching. Using pheromone guidance to alleviate an alpha’s symptoms is simply wishful thinking.”
Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze was calm: “When you were in Taiya, I helped you with a reverse temporary marking not because I thought your self-control was insufficient. It’s just that your situation was too special, and I couldn’t risk your safety. The reverse temporary marking was the best solution at that time.”
Ming Fei, who lived in the remote border region, had no way of knowing these things.
She was surprised by the Ole Empire’s concealment, and also by Zhu Yiqiao’s terrifying self-control. Many years ago, she had witnessed an alpha’s heat cycle on the street. One moment, the alpha was a well-dressed, gentle, and calm researcher, the next, they lost control, like a wild beast in clothing, turning and walking towards the nearest omega.
Fortunately, there were many passersby around at the time, and the street patrol arrived quickly. The out-of-control alpha was forcibly restrained by everyone and fainted after being injected with a suppressant.
This incident had a certain impact on the then thirteen-year-old Ming Fei, and she even shared this episode with One Raccoon Hill after returning home.
One Raccoon Hill had replied at the time,
[One Raccoon Hill: The Empire’s control and punishment of alphas are too lax.]
Ming Fei strongly agreed with One Raccoon Hill’s words and admired Zhu Yiqiao even more after learning about this method.
The two pheromones intertwined in the room, like intertwined vines, inseparable. At the same time, Ming Fei felt that her pheromones… were becoming increasingly joyful for some reason.
She asked, “Jiejie, can I ask you another question?”
“Mm.”
“Pheromones…” Ming Fei didn’t know how to describe it, so she asked, “Does the feeling they give relate to the differentiated individual’s personality?”
Her pheromones, even when close to the woody scent they liked, were still quiet and gentle, not becoming aggressive or invasive. However… Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones were very lively, pouncing around like a mischievous cat, unlike Zhu Yiqiao herself.
Their clasped hands intertwined their fingers.
Zhu Yiqiao’s voice rang out: “At least before I transmigrated, there were no such research reports in the Ole Empire. But there were indeed related studies showing that the pheromones of most alphas, like their innate personalities, are restless.”
The snow pear that fell on the snow had been surrounded by the raccoon cat.
It probably really liked and cherished this sweet pear, only licking its skin, not yet revealing its fangs to bite, its fluffy tail still circling it, as if wanting to take this pear back to its den and guard it day and night.
Until it was fully ripe.
Until it actively invited her to taste it.
And all of this was sensed by Ming Fei. The liking expressed by the pheromones was too obvious and straightforward, and Ming Fei’s ears turned completely red.
She answered softly, “Mm, then it probably has nothing to do with the differentiated individual’s personality.”
She thought, Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones were indeed different from her cold personality, but she didn’t feel any dissonance. She even thought that this contrast added a touch of vibrancy to Zhu Yiqiao.
After all, Chief Judge Zhu could never be associated with words like playful, lively, or mischievous at any other time.
The display screen not far away lit up. Ming Fei glanced at it and realized it was already eleven o’clock. The pheromone guidance was still ongoing. When she sensed a faint burning sensation in her gland, she frowned slightly.
This small movement was caught by Zhu Yiqiao’s peripheral vision, and even her pheromones slowed down.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
The burning sensation disappeared in a flash. Ming Fei just thought it was a glandular reaction caused by the pheromone guidance and didn’t pay much attention to it, still focusing on alleviating Zhu Yiqiao’s pre-heat symptoms.
“No, I just suddenly remembered that I haven’t finished some work and need to catch up tomorrow.”
After saying that, she asked, “How are you feeling, Jiejie?”
Zhu Yiqiao’s expression remained unchanged: “It’s effective.”
She changed the subject: “But the fluctuation threshold of your pheromone state is relatively low. If there were greater fluctuations in a short period, the soothing and guiding process could be completed faster.”
Ming Fei asked, puzzled, “Then how can I achieve greater fluctuations?”
Perhaps because her gland had been injured, compared to Zhu Yiqiao, she could feel that her pheromone state was indeed calmer, like an ancient well in the continuous autumn rain, occasionally rippling, but without any major tides.
Zhu Yiqiao: “Do you remember the definition of pheromone guidance?”
Ming Fei didn’t remember the definition of pheromone guidance, but she clearly remembered what Zhu Yiqiao had told her about it.
“—Pheromone guidance and co-regulation.”
“If necessary, it will be accompanied by intimate acts, such as holding hands, hugging, and kissing, for guidance.”
Therefore, Ming Fei asked uncertainly, “Is behavioral guidance needed?”
“Mm.”
Ming Fei’s voice was low: “Is hugging okay?”
Just as she finished speaking, Zhu Yiqiao leaned closer, stopping only inches away from Ming Fei’s lips. Then, she offered a quicker and more feasible solution.
“Ming Fei, kiss me.”
Ming Fei’s heart skipped a beat.
She didn’t want to appear hesitant, after all, the pheromone guidance was also helping her. She didn’t ask any further questions, since they had engaged in intimate acts before as part of their act.
She half-closed her eyes, turned her cheek, and lightly kissed Zhu Yiqiao’s right cheek.
This method was indeed very effective.
In the next instant, the pear fragrance in the air was like ignited fireworks, rapidly fluctuating to its most brilliant peak. At the same time, fireworks also seemed to explode in Ming Fei’s mind, blurring her vision, stopping her breath, and making her head spin.
So much so that she didn’t even notice—
That there was a silver box next to the first aid kit not far away, and the marking on that silver box was completely different from the one containing the regular suppressants, clearly containing the enhanced suppressants Zhu Yiqiao had mentioned.
But the marking happened to be covered by a shadow, and she couldn’t see it, nor did the person beside her let her see it.
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