After the Divorce, My Ex-Wife Suddenly Became an Alpha - Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Love
Chi Yuejing stayed in the bathroom for a full hour.
Even for a high-ranking Alpha with exceptional self-control, repeated pheromone outbursts like this were exhausting. She submerged herself in the water, holding her breath and waiting for the turbulent waves of emotion to calm down.
Her superior, well-toned Alpha body was enveloped by the water, like a sliver of silver moonlight melting on the surface. Only her shoulder blades were tightly covered with waterproof bandages. The edges were slightly swollen and bruised, disrupting the flawless beauty of her form.
But Chi Yuejing didn’t seem to care. In the year she had served in the remote star fleet, she had long lost count of how many times she’d been injured. Yet this was the only time she didn’t find it difficult to endure—in fact, she even felt a kind of bittersweet contentment.
She slowly surfaced, taking in the rich scent of white iris lingering in the air, interlaced faintly with a trace of orange blossom. She closed her eyes, almost afraid to startle that sweetness away, and cautiously took a small breath.
It really did smell so good.
If Gu JinXiao had been in the bathroom at that moment, she would have been shocked to realize she’d completely misunderstood.
Chi Yuejing wasn’t agitated or restless because of her pheromones—on the contrary, she was desperately suppressing the growing, maddening urge for possession that surged from within her instincts.
From the moment she first caught that scent six years ago, she had been hopelessly captivated.
Chi Yuejing was eighteen then, spending the long, endless summer break of high school accompanying her grandfather to a federal university sports awards ceremony. The summer heat was sweltering. After enduring rounds of polite socializing with elders, she finally couldn’t bear the boredom and quietly slipped away from the stage, seeking refuge in the shade outside the spectator stands.
Students were everywhere—on the tracks and under the trees—wearing uniforms from various schools and chattering excitedly about the competitions. Chi Yuejing was slowly scanning the area for a quiet corner to sit when she saw Gu JinXiao.
She had probably just finished a match, those long legs confidently on display, her fair cheeks flushed from the sun, yet she still glowed with beauty. But her eyes were the best part—bright and expressive, shimmering with a radiant gleam.
Several Omegas, both boys and girls, surrounded her, speaking animatedly. She smiled patiently, never interrupting anyone, until a volunteer with a cooler box passed by. Then she politely raised her hand and called out to stop them.
The volunteer was a petite girl carrying a cooler of drinks, who hurried over. Chi Yuejing watched as Gu JinXiao scanned her wristband terminal and bought the entire box of drinks.
She distributed them to the nearby students and athletes. Perhaps because Chi Yuejing had been staring the whole time, Gu JinXiao picked up a bottle and, smiling, handed it to her. “It’s so hot today, have a drink.”
The weather was hot, but to Chi Yuejing, this person was like the cleanest, most beautiful breeze.
The drink was a common orange-flavored sports juice, and the glass bottle still had condensation on it. For reasons unknown, she forgot to say thank you and just dumbly took the drink. Her fingers accidentally brushed Gu JinXiao’s fingertips, and her heart skipped a beat in surprise.
Gu JinXiao didn’t seem to mind. After giving out the drinks, she turned and walked away. A soft breeze carried her scent—Chi Yuejing suddenly caught a faint whiff of orange blossom.
It was the scent of an Alpha’s pheromones accidentally released after intense activity. At that time, she hadn’t undergone differentiation yet, and shouldn’t have been able to perceive pheromones at all. But Chi Yuejing had smelled it clearly.
The most enchanting scent she had ever experienced in her eighteen years of life.
The water in the tub slowly spiraled down the drain. Chi Yuejing stepped out of the bath, the flush on her face fading. But her peach blossom eyes were still misty, glowing like they’d just been rinsed.
The shattered perfume bottle on the floor had long been cleaned up by the robot, which had also sprayed a neutralizer. Standing in front of the mirror, her gaze slowly swept over the various bottles and jars there. She sternly warned herself not to touch them.
Even though she knew all of them carried Gu JinXiao’s scent—sweet, youthful, a scent that kept her awake at night, wanting to possess it completely.
But she had to have self-control. Because it was precisely that sense of restraint that allowed her to stay by her side. She needed all her patience, to wait for a hope that was nearly impossible.
Reining in her restlessness, Chi Yuejing lowered her eyelashes and reached out to open the bathroom door.
The bedroom was quiet.
A warm yellow night lamp glowed gently from the corner. Cool air from the AC fluttered the gauzy curtains at the floor-to-ceiling windows. The person on the sofa, probably having waited too long, had dozed off, her head tilted to one side, still holding an e-reader.
Chi Yuejing immediately softened her steps.
Gu JinXiao slept very neatly. One arm was propped under her head, her face half-buried in the crook of her elbow, exposing only a bit of her fair side profile. Her slightly puffed cheek looked adorably soft, and the light hit her hair, casting a faint, gentle halo—like a harmless little creature.
But sleeping in that position too long could hurt her neck. Thinking this, Chi Yuejing walked over. To avoid waking her, she leaned over the armrest and gently cradled her shoulder, lifting her up.
The sudden sensation of floating made the sleeping girl frown slightly. Gu JinXiao gave a soft hum and tried to open her eyes, but sleep tugged at her, and her lashes fluttered before slowly closing again.
Chi Yuejing effortlessly picked her up. As her body left the sofa, the girl in her arms let out a tiny, kitten-like murmur and instinctively nestled her head into the crook of her neck, naturally wrapping her arms around her shoulders.
Her fingers were unbelievably soft, brushing lightly against the back of Chi Yuejing’s neck and leaving a lingering tickle. Chi Yuejing’s heart skipped again, but Gu JinXiao was completely unaware, immersed in her dreams, pressing into her face like a sleepy kitten.
Eventually, she was laid into the soft embrace of the bed. Chi Yuejing knelt on one knee on the mattress, carefully settling her down. Her breathing was uneven, a lazy arm still clinging to her neck, exhaling warm little puffs in dissatisfaction—like someone upset their sweet dream had been interrupted.
That face she’d dreamed of so often was right in front of her—those elegant brows, long lashes casting soft shadows on her cheeks, and her pretty, rosy lips. Chi Yuejing gently reached out a finger to trace over them.
“Sleep well,” she murmured, reluctant to pull her hand away, “Have sweet dreams… my Xiao Xiao.”
“….”
Three days later, Chi Yuejing’s susceptibility period ended.
The moment the thermometer showed a normal temperature, Gu JinXiao finally let go of her worry, unconsciously breathing a long sigh of relief.
Although she had remained composed the entire time, the constant presence of an Alpha radiating pheromones made the atmosphere strangely awkward, leaving her uncomfortable. Watching Chi Yuejing burn with fever, her cheeks flushed and drowsy, Gu JinXiao’s heart had also been twisted in concern.
If it weren’t for needing to stay by her side… she wouldn’t have had to endure so much, would she?
The electric cooker bubbled gently as the scent of rice porridge wafted through the kitchen. Gu JinXiao glanced at the timer on the fridge, then stirred the bottom of the porridge with a spoon.
“What are you doing?” Chi Yuejing suddenly appeared at the door, drawn by the smell. She tilted her head in disbelief, clearly surprised by the scene.
Gu JinXiao didn’t even look up. “I’m making porridge… You haven’t eaten much these past few days. I had to search high and low to find this recipe.”
As she spoke, she picked up a small dish from the counter and tossed the shredded chicken into the pot to continue stirring. It had taken her half an hour just to flip through that brick-like Complete Cooking Manual to find something simple.
Even then, the porridge-cooking process had been full of mishaps. The rice had boiled over and spilled all over the stove, and she couldn’t manage to mince the ginger properly as the recipe instructed—so she gave up on that part entirely.
Chi Yuejing had no idea so much had happened while she slept. She stood quietly by the doorframe, watching the busy figure for a while before saying, “Thank you.”
Gu JinXiao was already ladling out the porridge. At her words, she smiled. “It’s no big deal. You came back from the fleet just to help me, even got injured… cooking for you is the least I can do. Besides, you know how bad my cooking is, so don’t get your hopes up.”
She placed a small bowl on the table and gently slid it toward Chi Yuejing.
By Chi Yuejing’s standards, the porridge didn’t look especially appetizing—too thick, and the shredded chicken clumped together instead of being nicely separated—but she said nothing. She just picked up the spoon and took a bite.
Gu JinXiao asked nervously, “Is it edible?”
She knew her own skill level, and also Chi Yuejing’s picky taste when it came to food. So she didn’t even try asking, “Does it taste good?”
But Chi Yuejing calmly chewed and swallowed, seeming to savor it for a moment before replying, “It’s very good.”
“Really?” Even Gu JinXiao couldn’t believe it. She looked at her, then at the pot still steaming. “If you say so… I guess I’ll try it too—”
Chi Yuejing kept a perfectly straight face as she scooped up another spoonful and stopped her. “No.”
“Didn’t you say you made it especially for me?” she said. “Then you’re not allowed to eat it.”