Her Pheromones Smell Like Sparkling Water (GL) - Chapter 13

The dorm building was still empty—no students had moved in yet. Only the dorm supervisor, an older woman who had arrived early for her post, lived in the room near the entrance on the first floor.

Inside the hollow building, the only sound echoing through the stairwell was the click of Shang Ranzhu’s heels against the steps. With the flickering lights that hadn’t been replaced yet, the further up she went, the creepier it felt.

The stairwell lights were sound-activated. As Shang Ranzhu reached the sixth floor, all the lights on the fifth, fourth, and third floors suddenly went out one by one—click click click click—leaving only the sixth floor dimly lit.

Above her, the seventh-floor landing that led to the rooftop was pitch black. Below her, the stairs disappeared into an abyss-like darkness.

It was like walking straight into a horror movie.

Shang Ranzhu clutched the handrail and sucked in a cold breath. In such a quiet and eerie place, she couldn’t help imagining a ghost girl suddenly reaching out from the darkness to grab her ankle.

But then she thought of Shen Tingjun. She was still waiting for her on the rooftop.

Wanting to see her, to talk things out, made Shang Ranzhu push past her fear.

She even found comfort in knowing Shen Tingjun was waiting for her at the top of those stairs.

*****

The rooftop felt like a completely different world. It was wide and open, with a large round table in the center and a few chairs—probably taken from nearby classrooms—scattered around. Clearly, it was the perfect hideout for students to skip class and hang out.

Shang Ranzhu scanned the area and spotted Shen Tingjun standing by the railing in the distance.

She stood tall, her back facing her, long hair swaying in the breeze like seaweed floating in the tide.

She looked like a melancholy girl out of a painting—strikingly beautiful, yet tinged with sadness that left a lasting impression.

Shang Ranzhu stepped toward her, wanting to break that sadness. “What are you doing up here, Miss Shen?”

“Don’t you think the view’s nice from here?” Shen Tingjun replied, brushing the loose strands of hair away from her face as she turned slightly to look at Shang Ranzhu.

The rooftop wind roared behind her, the city skyline twinkling in the background. Standing there in the center of it all, Shen Tingjun swayed in the wind—and in Shang Ranzhu’s eyes.

If only she had a camera.

She really wanted to capture this moment.

“Why are you staring at me?” Shen Tingjun asked.

Shang Ranzhu curved her lips into a smile and answered honestly, “Because you’re beautiful.”

Hearing that, Shen Tingjun locked eyes with her. Shang Ranzhu quickly grew self-conscious and looked away. “Why are you staring at me?” she countered.

“You’re beautiful too,” Shen Tingjun said, leaning against the railing as she openly looked at her.

Her smile was soft, like the faint pink of dawn—not fiery, but warm, like sunshine on a winter morning. It made Shang Ranzhu’s heart stutter out of rhythm.

It felt… like falling for someone.

A sudden gust of wind swept across the rooftop, tangling their hair together. Shen Tingjun gently reached out, her long fingers threading through Shang Ranzhu’s hair and tucking it behind her ear.

Her fingertips were cool at first, but the moment they brushed against Shang Ranzhu’s skin, they warmed, sending a spark down to her fingertips—and straight to her heart.

Her heart pounded wildly for no reason, her Alpha instincts flaring, every nerve ending alive with tingling sensation.

Snapping out of it, Shang Ranzhu swatted Shen Tingjun’s hand away and took a step back. “I can do it myself.”

Shen Tingjun’s hand paused mid-air, then slowly lowered under the moonlight. She nodded. “Alright.”

They stood with a bit of space between them, leaning against the old railing. The rooftop had gone quiet. Neither of them said anything.

After a long pause, Shang Ranzhu finally parted her dry lips and mumbled, “Hey, I’m sorry.”

“Hm?” Shen Tingjun didn’t quite catch it.

Shang Ranzhu turned to her and gathered her courage. “I said… I’m sorry, Miss Shen. I shouldn’t have gone too far.

Shen Tingjun felt a bit of relief in her chest and said, “It’s okay. It’s not all your fault.”

“But there’s something I still don’t get,” Shang Ranzhu pressed, not wanting to apologize without understanding. “Why did you react like that?”

Shen Tingjun let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh and lowered her gaze. “Actually…”

She stopped herself before continuing.

She turned her head to look at Shang Ranzhu—bold and beautiful like a blooming poppy—and recalled her earlier hostility.

She’s just a young Alpha, too green for Shen Tingjun to fully trust with her deepest secret.

Even though her Omega instincts were pulling her toward this Alpha, her rational mind shut that door tight again.

Shang Ranzhu, who was curious, pushed on. “Actually what?”

Shen Tingjun reached out and playfully tapped her nose. “You ask a lot of questions, don’t you, little one?”

Though she tried to deflect, Shang Ranzhu wouldn’t let it go. “Come on, Miss Shen. What were you going to say?”

There was no escape now—she wouldn’t stop until she got an answer.

After a moment of thought, Shen Tingjun lied. “…Actually, I tend to have a strong reaction to a lot of Alphas’ pheromones.”

“What do you mean?” Shang Ranzhu asked, confused.

“It means my pheromones are too weak,” Shen Tingjun explained vaguely, “so I get overwhelmed easily by stronger Alpha scents. The stronger the Alpha, the more I resist.”

If Shang Ranzhu had done even a little research on Omegas, she might have realized Shen Tingjun was describing one.

But unfortunately…

“Oh, I see,” Shang Ranzhu nodded like she understood.

She didn’t.

This little Alpha was secretly overjoyed. So that’s what it was—her pheromones were just too strong for Miss Shen to handle!

Victory!

Shen Tingjun noticed how easily she believed it and felt relieved. She added a bit more drama: “You’re not going to make fun of me, are you? Your Miss Shen is really quite weak.”

Seeing the faint sadness on her face, Shang Ranzhu threw an arm around her and said sincerely, “Of course not. Just because your pheromones are weak doesn’t mean you have to feel bad. Think about it—you’re still an Alpha. Just being one gives you a biological advantage over any Omega.”

When Shang Ranzhu brought up this whole “species advantage” idea, Shen Tingjun felt a bit uncomfortable. She gently pushed her away and asked, “Is that really true?”

Shang Ranzhu thought she was seeking reassurance, so she tightened her arm around Shen Tingjun’s shoulders and said confidently, “Mm-hmm! You should have the confidence of an Alpha.”

Shen Tingjun’s shoulder ached slightly under her grip. She glanced sideways at this blindly confident little Alpha and asked with a hint of sarcasm, “Then what should I do?”

Shang Ranzhu thought for a second and answered without hesitation, “Be like how you were before—head high, chest out, and that classic resting b1tch face.”

Shen Tingjun’s already gloomy expression darkened a few shades more.

Seeing that she still wasn’t back to her usual self, Shang Ranzhu assumed her strong pheromones had hit Shen Tingjun’s pride. So she patted her chest boldly and said, “How about this—from now on, I’ve got your back. Don’t worry. If anyone dares release their pheromones in front of you, I’ll beat them up.”

Shen Tingjun was surprised by Ranzhu’s sudden declaration. A bittersweet smile passed through her eyes. “Really? You’ll protect me?”

Shang Ranzhu’s Alpha instinct kicked in. “Of course! You’re my teacher. It’s my duty to protect you.”

Shen Tingjun looked up at her. There was an emotion in her eyes—something faint like smoke—that drifted out under Shang Ranzhu’s gaze.

Shen Tingjun then gave her a small, pale smile. “Alright.”

With that, she reached into her pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. She lit one smoothly, took a long drag, and exhaled a thin ribbon of smoke.

It curled upward and disappeared into the sky. No one would have guessed that just twenty minutes ago, this beautiful face had been flushed and sweating, struggling in the grip of an unexpected heat cycle.

Since she’d officially become Shen Tingjun’s self-proclaimed “boss,” Shang Ranzhu figured her responsibilities extended beyond just protecting her—she also had to look out for her health. “Smoking’s not good for you.”

Shen Tingjun tapped her cigarette ash lightly. “Mm, you should smoke less.”

Shang Ranzhu blinked. “You mean you should smoke less.”

“After this film’s done,” Shen Tingjun replied, taking another drag. The smoke swirled, carried by the rooftop wind, drifting lazily between them.

“Can you smoke now?” she asked casually.

“I can.”

Shang Ranzhu was bluffing again—just saying it. The only time she’d tried smoking was with Shen Tingjun, and even then it was just one puff.

Her mother, Liu Lihua, had raised her strictly, grooming her to be a proper lady—no smoking, no drinking, no exceptions. If her mother ever discovered the truth, she would likely punish her severely.

“Here.”

Shen Tingjun handed her the cigarette again. The filter still had the faint imprint of her teeth and a hint of that rosy lipstick.

Almost without thinking, Shang Ranzhu took it. This time, she held it with far more confidence. Under Shen Tingjun’s watchful eyes, she placed it between her lips, recalling how Shen Tingjun had taught her to smoke last time, and took a gentle inhale.

It was still that familiar minty taste, mixed with the clean scent of pine and bamboo that seemed to belong to Shen Tingjun alone.

She parted her lips slightly and slowly exhaled a wisp of smoke. The wind on the rooftop whisked it away in an instant, leaving behind nothing graceful or cool.

Shang Ranzhu frowned. That was lame. So lame. Compared to how effortlessly cool Shen Tingjun looked earlier, she was totally outclassed.

“Does it taste good?” Shen Tingjun asked, pulling out another cigarette and twirling it in her fingers.

Shang Ranzhu nodded while still holding the cigarette, then snatched the lighter from Shen Tingjun’s hand. “Why are you lighting another one?”

“What else am I supposed to do? I gave mine to you.” Shen Tingjun spread her hands with a mix of resignation and fond amusement.

“There’s no ‘what else.’ Just don’t smoke anymore.” Shang Ranzhu said firmly, with no intention of handing the lighter back.

“You really won’t give it back?” Shen Tingjun asked.

“Nope.” Shang Ranzhu was adamant.

If she just handed it over like that, wouldn’t she lose all her face as the “boss”?

Shen Tingjun nodded slightly. Then, right in front of Shang Ranzhu, she tilted her head and bit down on the unlit cigarette between her lips and bent forward—lining it up with the still-burning cigarette in Shang Ranzhu’s hand.

Shang Ranzhu’s heart began thudding wildly.

At that distance, Shen Tingjun’s breath brushed her fingers—cool and warm all at once. It was maddening.

Shen Tingjun slowly inhaled from her cigarette, then exhaled a delicate smoke ring.

Through the soft haze, her expression remained cold and unreadable. There was no trace of flirtation at the corners of her eyes, and her white shirt was buttoned neatly to the top. Only her lips held a soft, wet sheen—translucent and tempting.

Shang Ranzhu’s pheromones surged violently. Her throat bobbed, and her lips were dry. Something inside pushed her to lean in, to taste that glistening fruit.

Just then, BANG!—the rooftop door slammed open.

Xu Yiren burst out with a giant bag of snacks in hand, bouncing as she shouted, “Ha! Didn’t expect me, did you? I came early!”

Shang Ranzhu snapped back to reality, locking eyes with Xu Yiren and freezing on the spot.

Only Shen Tingjun stayed composed, straightening up calmly, though she did awkwardly shove her hand into the wrong pocket.

For a moment, it was hard to tell who was more embarrassed—Shen Tingjun, Shang Ranzhu, or Xu Yiren.

Or maybe it was just the wind on the rooftop.