I Am Not a Scummy Alpha (GL) - Chapter 5

Gu Qiu and Lin Jinzhu arrived late, almost just on time. It wasn’t long before class began.

The tuition fees at Svir Academy are expensive every year, and similarly, the teachers are highly paid talents hired by the school.

This class was Pheromone Control, fully named “Pheromone Control Theory and Practical Application.” The instructor’s surname was Jian, and her name was Jian Yi. She was a retired scientific expert from an Imperial Capital research institute and had published numerous journals on pheromone research.

Perhaps due to years of research, her demeanor was unsmiling, and the crow’s feet around her eyes made her appear stern and sharp.

“Professor Jian Yi is coming again.”

“I have to say, even though I know Professor Jian Yi is just a Beta, every time I make eye contact with her, my heart trembles a little. Her aura is too strong.” As she said this, the person’s shoulders shook in a complementary gesture.

For her, being afraid of teachers was natural, especially teachers like Jian Yi with such a powerful aura.

The person next to her teased kindly, “You’re exaggerating too much. Look at your lack of nerve.”

While they were talking, the sound of high heels stepping on the floor outside the classroom rang out. Then, a tall figure in a black knit cardigan with neatly tied-up hair appeared at the door.

It was the teacher they were discussing: Jian Yi.

Svir Academy students are either rich or noble, and some teachers might be hesitant to provoke them, but Jian Yi had no such scruples or worries. She entered the classroom, walked stern-faced to the lectern, opened the holographic screen, and without even raising her head, said succinctly, “Class starts now.”

The first half of the course was an introduction to the theoretical part. The holographic screen hovered in the air, changing content as Jian Yi manipulated it. Her steady voice reached every student’s ear, without any unnecessary filler.

“With environmental changes, the bodies of the first-generation humans underwent some transformations. After millennia of evolution, they began secreting a certain hormone, which is now commonly known as pheromones.”

“Every Alpha and Omega possesses their own pheromones, while Betas have no scent gland, and their physical structure is closer to that of first-generation humans.”

“According to the research results of the first-generation research institute, the higher the rank, the more precise the control over pheromones, and the stronger the perceptual ability.”

“But—” Jian Yi glanced around the classroom. When she saw Lin Jinzhu, she nodded slightly before continuing.

“In order to maintain social stability, regardless of a citizen’s rank, everyone must learn precise control over pheromones. This is something all Alphas and Omegas must master.”

“It is also the original intention of Svir Academy offering this course.”

She continued, “And the practical part of our lesson today is the initial control of pheromones.”

After speaking, Jian Yi pressed a button on the holographic screen. The next second, a “ding” sound was heard, and a silver-white panel on the lectern slowly slid open. A small machine slowly rose from within, revealed to everyone.

Jian Yi stated, “This is the research institute’s latest achievement: the Pheromone Controller, organized and developed by Academician Lin Man.”

Academician Lin Man?

Hearing that name, the surrounding attention uncontrollably shifted toward Lin Jinzhu.

Academician Lin Man was Lin Jinzhu’s mother, the highest-level researcher at the Imperial Capital Research Institute, whose developed products were widely used in the pheromone medical industry.

Her influence was so great that she was a figure who could be written into future history textbooks, enjoying immense authority in the entire Imperial Capital medical community.

In her seat, Lin Jinzhu’s expression was calm; even upon hearing her mother’s name, her emotions remained largely undisturbed.

An Omega curiously looked at the machine, raised her hand, and asked, “Professor, how do we use this machine?”

On the stage, Jian Yi glanced at the questioning Omega and replied, “That’s a good question. Therefore, I’d like to invite student Gu Qiu to come up and give everyone a demonstration first.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Qiu’s eyes, but she stood up cooperatively. Under everyone’s gaze, the tall and upright Alpha walked onto the stage.

“Yes, Professor.”

After Gu Qiu stood ready, Jian Yi motioned: “Gu Qiu, inject your pheromones into this machine and try to control the concentration to fifty percent.”

Gu Qiu placed her hand on the machine as instructed and injected her pheromones into it.

The section of the machine that held the pheromones was semi-transparent. Marked with a special substance, the originally colorless pheromones inside the container could be seen gradually turning a rich red.

Upon receiving the pheromones, the machine also emitted a thumb-sized red glow.

After seeing this, some Omegas in the classroom couldn’t help but whisper to their friends nearby.

“That red colour is so beautiful.”

“The liquid inside must be the K7 reagent newly produced by the research institute. It’s said that if this reagent is vaporized and mixed with pheromones, a reaction occurs, allowing us to see the colour that person’s pheromones represent.”

“Gu Qiu’s pheromones are Carolla Rose, a top-grade variety of rose. I wonder what it smells like.”

“It must be very fragrant, after all, Gu Qiu is an SSS-level Alpha.”

“I truly envy her future Omega. Pheromones aside, just looking at Gu Qiu’s hands, you know she must…” The Omega didn’t dare to continue her sentence, but her flushed earlobes were enough for others to guess her unspoken meaning.

As a top Omega, Lin Jinzhu’s senses were keen, and these words inevitably reached her ears. Her expression silently darkened. Her fingers tightened slightly, and the pain in her palm barely allowed her to suppress the dark emotions rising within her.

“Drip—drip—drip—”

On the stage, the Pheromone Controller beeped a few times, signaling the completion of Gu Qiu’s pheromone injection.

As Gu Qiu released her hand, a numerical value slowly appeared on the small machine. Luminous white dots gathered, settling precisely at $50\%$, without the slightest error.

“Oh my God! So impressive!” many people exclaimed.

“$50\%$! Not a single deviation! That’s too accurate!”

Similarly, upon seeing this, Jian Yi’s face showed satisfaction, and her expression seemed to soften considerably.

Truly worthy of being an SSS-level Alpha. Her control over pheromones is astonishingly strong.

She turned her face and looked back at the students below, saying, “Student Gu Qiu gave an excellent demonstration.”

“Next, any student who wishes to try can come up to the stage. The requirement is still a $50\%$ concentration. Anyone whose margin of error is within $10\%$ will receive extra credit.”

As soon as these words fell, the noise below increased dramatically. Some were eager to try, while others started lamenting.

“My goodness, jumping straight into high difficulty.”

“This is too hard. Not everyone can achieve such accurate pheromone control. Those who can have trained for a long time, but we’ve only been in school for a year.”

“The professor makes it sound so easy. Who doesn’t know Gu Qiu is SSS-level? Of course, it’s easy for her. Why compare her to us?” The speaker was a male Alpha sitting in the sixth row, with a crew cut. His tone carried resentment and sarcasm. “The SSS rank is just different, huh?”

His volume wasn’t loud; logically, only two or three people nearby should have heard him. But Lin Jinzhu in the third row suddenly turned her head, her gaze cold and fierce, as if carrying a blizzard.

She stared at the person and said coldly, “Research results came out a long time ago: even the highest-ranked Alpha needs to go through postnatal learning and practice to control their pheromones. This is not an innate skill.”

“Similarly, only a piece of trash would attribute someone else’s success solely to their rank, finding jealous excuses for their own incompetence while refusing to put in the effort.”

Lin Jinzhu did not lower her voice for this speech. Even with the current chatter in the classroom, it was loud enough for half the people to hear.

Under the scrutiny of two or three dozen pairs of eyes, the Alpha’s face instantly turned ashen: “You… you!”

But looking at Lin Jinzhu’s ice-cold face, he didn’t dare to talk back. He finally just clenched his fists in embarrassment, remaining silent.

He couldn’t afford to provoke the family backing Lin Jinzhu.

Jian Yi saw the commotion below the stage. Being experienced, she could guess what had happened just from Lin Jinzhu’s words.

Jian Yi said, “I hope students don’t underestimate yourselves. Pheromone control is a learned skill. Rank does indeed offer convenience, but individual insight and effort are absolutely indispensable.”

“Frankly speaking, humanity’s current understanding of pheromones is neither complete nor absolute.”

“However, as humanity evolves and progresses, the research institute’s exploration of pheromones has never stopped. A new discovery and breakthrough might very well happen one day soon.”

“Of course, what we’re discussing now is somewhat off-topic.”

Jian Yi nodded to Gu Qiu beside her: “Student Gu Qiu, please return to your seat for now.”

Gu Qiu nodded calmly.

Throughout the entire process, whether being praised by the habitually strict Jian Yi or facing the students’ discontent, Gu Qiu’s expression remained normal on stage, appearing perfectly calm and unperturbed by either favour or disgrace.

This made Jian Yi even more satisfied. This is clearly a steady, composed child.

Gu Qiu maintained her cool, unbothered expression, walked down the stage, and leisurely sat back in her seat.

She waited until Jian Yi looked elsewhere and the students’ attention returned to the stage.

Then, she quietly, quietly moved closer to Lin Jinzhu. Her eyes were sparkling, containing an unconcealable small triumph and subtle pride.

Her hair ends brushed against Lin Jinzhu’s hand, causing a tickle. Lin Jinzhu’s tightly clenched fingers softly and easily loosened. Beside her ear, Gu Qiu’s voice was very low, as if sharing a small secret only the two of them could know.

“Lin Jinzhu, Professor Jian Yi praised me just now, you know. She rarely praises anyone. Aren’t I very amazing?”

“My view was wide from the stage. When I looked down, I could always spot you right away.”

“I heard you stand up for me. I’m so happy.”

Her voice was sweet and sticky: “How can you be so nice, Lin Jinzhu?”