I’m Allergic to Pheromones - Chapter 44

The sound of running water filled the air as the dark-haired Omega tilted her head slightly in front of the mirror, fingers gently combing through her hair, her heart aching at the sight of the crabapple blossoms that had lost a few petals.

These were plucked from the garden by Bai Cha late at night, just for her. She treasured them dearly—she really should have taken them off earlier.

“You’re the Omega from the Nan family, aren’t you?”

Nan Ju looked up, frowning slightly in resignation.

“Miss, this is the restroom for Omegas only.”

The woman with long, straight red hair leaned casually against the wall beside the sink, arms crossed, letting out a soft scoff. Her tone was indifferent. “You dared to drag an Alpha into the woods and beat them up, yet you’re scared of this?”

Nan Ju’s gaze flickered, but she refused to back down.

“I recall we beat them up together—it wasn’t just me.”

Beating up Xu Zhiyi had been something she’d wanted to do for a long time. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. The unexpected part was having someone join in—she didn’t even know who this woman was.

Black pants, combat boots, a white tank top layered under a thin black jacket, and long, straight red hair parted to the side, falling loosely over her chest. Her features were unremarkable, plain even, except for her eyes—exceptionally striking. Almond-shaped with a hint of phoenix eyes, the pupils round and bright, their clarity undimmed even by the dark eyeshadow.

Just looking at those eyes, many would assume she was a stunning beauty.

Nan Ju liked those eyes. She turned off the faucet, grabbed a paper towel to dry her hands, and thanked her sincerely. “Thanks for your help earlier.”

In her past life, she’d grown up in an orphanage in a small town. Being pretty and other reasons had led to frequent fights—she’d always been rebellious, impossible to tame. Trash like Xu Zhiyi, who clung like a leech and wouldn’t let go, couldn’t be dealt with unless thoroughly put in their place.

Only by making her open her eyes wide and realize just how unapproachable Nan Ju had become could she be rid of those disgusting intentions.

The only surprise was Xu Zhiyi daring to go into heat in front of her and attempting to force a mark.

In her fury, Nan Ju hadn’t held back.

“No need to thank me. You did most of the heavy lifting—I just helped move the body,” the woman said offhandedly, making Nan Ju flush instantly.

Honestly, she really hadn’t held back. Her fingers still ached faintly.

Ah, blame this delicate, pampered body. In the past, she could’ve taken on ten at once.

Nan Ju waved her hand sheepishly. “No, no, you were pretty good at throwing punches too.”

This woman hadn’t hit as much as she had, but every strike had been aimed at vital spots. Nan Ju even wondered if she’d fought in underground matches—otherwise, where did that kind of presence come from?

Ye Qiumian listened, suddenly finding herself amused. The Nan family’s young miss was far more spirited than the frail, delicate girl she remembered from childhood. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, glittering object, handing it over. “This is yours, right? Don’t go back to the garden. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Nan Ju froze for a moment, instinctively touching her earlobe. Sure enough, one of her earrings had gone missing at some point. She’d been so focused on the begonia petals falling that she hadn’t even noticed.

She reached out to take the earring, unable to resist asking: “Why do you keep helping me?”

They weren’t relatives or even friends. While helping drag Xu Zhiyi into the grove for a beating could barely be considered heroic, assisting with the aftermath seemed to cross boundaries.

“Why?” The red-haired woman, already turning to leave, paused to consider before smiling. “I find you interesting. More interesting than other Omega ladies.”

All the Omega women she’d met, including her own mother, had been delicate and fragile. She’d never seen an Omega like Nan Ju who could throw punches while wearing high heels and a qipao.

She didn’t know what had possessed her at the time—instead of stopping the fight, she’d jumped in to help beat the guy up. Looking back now, it was truly bizarre.

The woman’s figure quickly disappeared down the corridor. She seemed intimately familiar with the estate’s layout, navigating both the garden paths and main house routes with ease. Nan Ju gazed at the red earring in her palm and sighed in admiration.

“Su Wei’s girlfriend is really something.”

An unmarkable Beta—how thrilling.

These two really knew how to play.

–

“No way. Didn’t you see how she ignored me all night?”

At a third-floor stairwell corner, Ye Qiushuang impatiently pushed away her fiancé, her face clearly showing disapproval.

As tonight’s birthday girl, having Nan Ju steal her spotlight in front of everyone was bad enough. Now Wen Qiao wanted to stir up more trouble, making her even more irritable.

Standing opposite each other, Wen Qiao adjusted his crooked tie after being shoved, displeased but thinking of Nan Ju’s face as he patiently coaxed Ye Qiushuang.

“Shuangshuang, this is a rare opportunity.”

“Enough! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after.” Ye Qiushuang found his voice grating now, her pretty face scrunched in displeasure. “You just want to sleep with Nan Ju, like all the others.”

Unfazed by being called out, Wen Qiao maintained his smile. “Wasn’t this our original plan? What’s changed?”

Ye Qiushuang’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, remaining silent.

Of course, she knew it was jealousy—jealous of Nan Ju’s beauty, her family background, how she effortlessly obtained everything Ye Qiushuang had to fight for.

Ruining Nan Ju had been her own idea. To achieve this, she’d even partnered with Wen Qiao, this second-rate family’s playboy. She’d get to see Nan Ju fall into disgrace while he’d gain some Ye family resources.

After all, that useless Ye Qiumian had already been driven out of Flower City. Once Ye Qiushuang married, she’d naturally inherit all the Ye family assets. Throwing some scraps to her obedient little husband wouldn’t be difficult.

But now… Ye Qiushuang was having regrets.

She was starting to despise Wen Qiao’s hypocrisy—a spineless man with no ambition, just riding women’s coattails to success. What a pathetic weakling.

If given the choice again, of course it would be better to pick a dependable, heroic, and preferably gentle Alpha.

At this thought, Ye Qiushuang couldn’t help but recall Xu Zhiyi’s face and that warm, sunny scent of hers.

If—if she had been the one to meet Xu Zhiyi first…

“Shuangshuang, are you even listening to me?”

Ye Qiushuang snapped out of her thoughts, her face flushed an unnatural red. She met Wen Qiao’s eyes, a single idea swelling endlessly in her mind.

Why not?

If she made Wen Qiao mark Nan Ju, wouldn’t Zhiyi-jie be disgusted?

The absurd, wicked thought coiled around her like a man-eating beast, trapping her firmly at its center. She gripped Wen Qiao’s hand tightly, urgency in her voice: “Did you bring the medicine?”

—

Nan Ju had an excellent memory and still recalled the path she had taken the last time she fled. After parting ways with Ye Qiumian, she deliberately avoided areas where guests might gather, strolling leisurely through the Ye family mansion.

The hallway wallpaper was still adorned with large clusters of orange-red and deep-red kapok flowers, blazing like fire from a distance, scorching the eyes.

Nan Ju couldn’t help but compare the flowers to Ye Qiumian, nodding inwardly: Quite fitting—a fiery older sister.

Some young guests laughed and played boisterously in the garden, their voices carried by the wind through the open windows. Nan Ju glanced down but, as expected, didn’t spot Su Wei among them.

Her gaze skimmed indifferently over an inconspicuous grove of trees as she prepared to head downstairs to look for Ye Qiushuang —only to see the girl approaching with a glass in hand, her expression fraught with anxiety.

What’s the hurry?

Nan Ju pondered silently as Ye Qiushuang, spotting her, brightened and hurried over, her demeanor perfectly natural, with no trace of the stiffness from earlier when Nan Ju had rejected her.

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Weren’t you supposed to spend my birthday with me tonight? I haven’t seen you at all.”

Ye Qiushuang pouted, reaching out as if to loop her arm through Nan Ju’s, but then hesitated, recalling Nan Ju’s earlier remark about her being short. Instead, she held out the glass in her hand. “Peach juice—your favorite. I got it just for you.”

Nan Ju lowered her eyes slightly, her stunningly beautiful face glowing like polished jade under the light.

She studied Ye Qiushuang until the girl began to squirm internally, then finally smiled and accepted the glass.

“Too many people. I just found a quiet spot to hide.”

Too preoccupied with coaxing Nan Ju into drinking, Ye Qiushuang failed to notice the faint chill in her gaze—or how Nan Ju’s eyes lingered on her hand.

“Zhiyi-jie said she’d come find you. Have you seen her?”

Not only did I see her, but I also dragged her into the grove and beat her up.

Nan Ju smiled inwardly but replied lightly, “No. Maybe she didn’t come.”

“Maybe she got lost—our house is pretty big.” Ye Qiushuang answered distractedly before blurting out, “They gave me so many gifts today. Come help me open them!”

“Sure.”

Since you’re delivering yourself to me, I won’t hold back.

Nan Ju obediently let herself be led into Ye Qiushuang’s room. It was spacious, with presents piled in a corner like a small mountain. A plush carpet stretched from the bed to the bay window, soft and fluffy—perfect for sinking one’s feet into.

The entire room was painted in soft pink and blue, exuding a girlish charm. Nan Ju examined it with great interest, oblivious to Ye Qiushuang quietly closing and locking the door behind her.

“Make yourself comfortable. Why are you still holding onto that peach juice? It won’t taste as good once the ice melts.”

Nan Ju turned around and was about to take a sip as suggested, the pink liquid nearly touching her lips when she suddenly paused. “You seem really eager for me to drink this quickly,” she remarked.

“N-no, not at all,” Ye Qiushuang stammered nervously. “If you don’t want it, just set it aside.”

“Is that so?”

Nan Ju asked lightly, her fingers idly swirling the glass, the peach juice threatening to spill over several times. She toyed with it childishly before looking at Ye Qiushuang, who still stood by the door. “Why don’t you drink it for me?”

“Huh?”

Nan Ju had grown tired of playing along. Clutching the glass, she walked over slowly, her gaze calm and clear.

“Don’t you love slipping ‘special ingredients’ into drinks for others? Xu Zhiyi drank the wine you gave her too, didn’t she? Let me guess—you planned to lead her astray, wait until the drugs kicked in, and then make your move yourself?”

Watching Ye Qiushuang’s face pale in shock, Nan Ju added maliciously, “Where’s Wen Qiao? Was he supposed to come to this room in half an hour?”

“So, will you drink this yourself, or should I help you?”