My Alpha Has a Split Personality - Chapter 24

As soon as Chi Yunhan got off work, she hurried back to find Jiang Muning, only to discover that Jiang Muning had changed rooms. Fortunately, it wasn’t far, so she rushed upstairs, panting heavily. She placed her things on the table, eager to share the news with Jiang Muning.

 

“My sister finally got what she deserved.”

 

Jiang Muning, who had been reading a document, closed it and asked, “How so?”

 

“Do you remember last time when we went to my parents’ place? I wrote down a recipe for my sister.”

 

Jiang Muning’s brows twitched, her expression turning complicated. “I remember. What happened?”

 

Chi Yunhan started laughing before she could even explain. “Hahaha! She spent days at the company experimenting with that recipe, and the whole place stank for days. The neighboring shops thought we were blowing up a toilet for fun!”

 

Jiang Muning’s brows furrowed slightly as she tilted her head to look at her, more serious than usual. “And then?”

 

Chi Yunhan cleared her throat. “And then… my sister handed the recipe to her business partner, and the smell knocked them out! Hahahaha—”

 

Her laughter trailed off when she noticed Jiang Muning’s silence. The woman’s face looked so stern it was almost twisted.

 

Chi Yunhan stopped laughing, muttering to herself. What’s going on? Isn’t this funny? Why does Jiang Muning seem angry?

 

Confused, she asked, “Last time… didn’t you say you liked me like this?”

 

Jiang Muning frowned. “Liked what?”

 

“You said you loved how devious I was, that you couldn’t get enough of it, and told me to share the results with you later?” Chi Yunhan spoke while studying Jiang Muning’s expression, her gaze eventually dropping to her chest. “You didn’t unbutton your collar today.”

 

Jiang Muning glanced down. “The AC is on in the ward. It’s cold if I unbutton it.” Then she added, “I do like it. You… did well.”

 

“Hehe.” Chi Yunhan grinned happily, kneeling on the chair with one leg as she leaned in. “Then laugh for me. Otherwise, I won’t believe you like it.”

 

Jiang Muning’s brows knitted tightly together. She picked up her cup and took a sip, suppressing the urge in her throat. Chi Yunhan inched closer. “Feels like you’re lying.”

 

“I’m not.” Jiang Muning avoided her gaze for a few seconds before turning back, speaking stiffly, “Ha. Ha. Hahaha. So funny. I really like it.”

 

“Hahaha!” Chi Yunhan burst out laughing at her seriousness. It was too amusing—she had never seen anyone laugh like that before. She couldn’t stop, even hiccuping from laughter.

 

Grabbing the snacks she had bought earlier, she tore open the packaging. “Here, try some. I was planning to eat while telling the story—it’d feel more celebratory.”

 

But seeing Jiang Muning’s expression, she thought it’d be even funnier to eat while watching her. Chi Yunhan put on gloves and picked up a duck neck, offering it to Jiang Muning. “Come on, try this. It’s super delicious.”

 

Jiang Muning glanced at it, spotting the Sichuan peppercorns. “I don’t eat spicy food.”

 

“Just one bite.” Chi Yunhan swallowed her drool. “If you don’t eat it, I will.”

 

Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Jiang Muning leaned forward slightly and bit into the duck neck. Spicy and numbing, with barely any meat—just enough to taste—it made her cough.

 

Chi Yunhan was eating happily, wearing gloves on both hands as she savored the food leisurely. “By the way, my sister got sued today and was taken away by the police. I heard her business partner smelled that scent, immediately stiffened, foamed at the mouth, and passed out.”

 

“Cough—” Jiang Muning choked suddenly, spat out the bone in her mouth, and took a big gulp of tea. “Who told you that?”

 

“That’s what everyone’s saying outside. Apparently, they’re still trying to resuscitate the person. Sigh.” Chi Yunhan sighed. “Actually, the formula wasn’t that smelly when mixed. If I were the one blending it, it would’ve turned out fine. My sister is just really terrible at it.”

 

“What about her business partner? Is she terrible too?”

 

“Ah… how should I put it? Anyway, I don’t like her. Because of her, my sister often mocked me, saying that since her scents were so well-blended, the partner would acquire the entire company for her. Pfft, my sister’s scents are well-blended? If that mess counts as good, then… well, I just can’t bring myself to like her.”

 

Chi Yunhan defended herself, “The formula I gave could actually produce a very beautiful fragrance. It’s her own fault for not blending it properly. It has nothing to do with me—I didn’t poison her business partner.”

 

“Hmm?” Jiang Muning looked at her, her expression softening slightly. “You know how to blend fragrances?”

 

“Of course I do. I just can’t actually do it.” Chi Yunhan’s voice trailed off as she picked up the pen beside her laptop, weighing it in her fingers. It wasn’t too heavy and wrote smoothly.

 

Kneeling on the chair without a care for posture, she scribbled in a square notebook: Tuberose (30 drops) top note, oakmoss (x drops)… and finally, the key ingredients—indole, sage, and civet.

 

Switching to verbal explanation, she continued, “Indole and sage can be slightly increased, but civet must be used sparingly—very lightly. Do you know what’s most mysterious in the forest? Right, it’s the animals. This scent should be so faint it’s almost imperceptible—that’s what creates the mystery, the feeling of exploring deep into the woods… a drop here, a drop there… Oh, and the indole concentration must be diluted. Absolutely must be diluted, or else it’ll just smell like a toilet…”

 

“After dilution, it’ll have a quiet floral note, a subtle bloom. Wouldn’t that pair perfectly with the animalic civet? Hahaha! The steps must be followed precisely—not a single mistake. If you mess up, you’ll end up with the same disaster my sister made.”

 

Suddenly, half the sunlight on the table was blocked as Jiang Muning leaned in, her fingers resting on the desk. “How much exactly should the indole be diluted? When indole and civet are mixed, they often produce cheap scents—like baby powder or floral water. If a perfume ends up smelling like that, consumers would definitely complain.”

 

“Dilute it within this range. The exact amount depends on the essential oil’s concentration and quality. And I don’t think baby powder or floral water scents are cheap. Don’t you think that kind of fragrance, when mixed with the milky scent of a baby, is simply wonderful? That soft, tender newborn aroma is so unique—probably no one can resist it.”

 

Jiang Muning propped a hand on the table, pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “You’re right. It really just depends on the target audience.”

 

Chi Yunhan said, “I’ve always felt that blended perfumes are never perfect—they’re just masking one’s natural scent. If they could harmonize with one’s body fragrance, they’d smell even better and truly showcase the perfume’s value. What do you think…”

 

“That’s a great suggestion,” Jiang Muning replied, pointing to another section. “Look here—using steam distillation causes plants to lose their inherent color. Compared to that, I prefer the carbon dioxide extraction method. It preserves the freshness of the plants and better captures the essence of summer.”

 

“That’s too literal. I think a colorless state that still evokes the scent of summer would be better. Look, it’s already July, and in a few days it’ll be…” Chi Yunhan glanced at Jiang Muning and suddenly trailed off, lost in thought.

 

“What’s in a few days?” Jiang Muning tapped the table, prompting her to continue.

 

In a few days, it’ll be Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day!

 

Chi Yunhan blinked suggestively, but Jiang Muning only looked puzzled. Forced to return to the topic of perfume, Chi Yunhan said, “Well, in a little while, summer will be over, and autumn will arrive. By then, this perfume won’t just evoke the feeling of summer—it could also become a memory of summer.”

 

Jiang Muning countered, “Autumn will have its own scents. The point is to create seasonal fragrances. By your logic, this wouldn’t be a summer perfume but a summer-autumn hybrid, losing most of its value.”

 

The two of them sat by a small desk in the hospital room, alternately pointing at notes and pulling up references on the computer, debating each other’s ideas. What had started as a deliberate distance between them had now turned into a face-to-face argument, both flushed with passion.

 

Chi Yunhan huffed, “Ugh, you’re so stubborn! Why do you have to be so dictatorial? This is my perfume—I can do whatever I want with it!”

 

“You’re just as obstinate, refusing to listen to others’ opinions. Working in isolation won’t lead to progress. Haven’t you heard? A perfumer is the creator, not the consumer. Just because you like something doesn’t mean everyone else will. I’ve never liked it when people say, ‘I’m happy with my own work.’ If you’re going to make and sell something, you should strive for excellence and perfection—otherwise, it loses its value.”

 

So, infuriating!

 

Chi Yunhan felt like she was about to explode. Even if it was her wife, she couldn’t just nitpick like this—especially when Chi Yunhan was at a loss for words. Jiang Muning even raised an eyebrow, as if she’d won the argument and expected compliance.

 

Chi Yunhan stood up straight on her chair, looking down at Jiang Muning from above. “Keep arguing, and I’ll kiss you—see if I don’t!”

 

Jiang Muning opened her mouth, then chose silence. But her eyes still held defiance, as if she wanted to keep trying to persuade Chi Yunhan. Chi Yunhan leaned forward, their lips now just centimeters apart.

 

Jiang Muning tilted her head slightly, her hands on the table curling into fists. After a long pause, she turned back and said, “If I let you kiss me, will you do it my way?”

 

Chi Yunhan swallowed hard, feeling like she’d walked into another trap. Jiang Muning must have been provoking her on purpose, just to steal her first kiss.

 

Part of her wanted to kiss her, but another part felt awkward. “Why should I kiss you and give you the formula? That’d be too much of a loss for me.”

 

“Then do you want me to kiss you?”

 

They were so close now, each able to smell the other’s fragrance.

 

Chi Yunhan’s face flushed. “What do you mean, ‘Do I want to?’ Don’t you want to as well?”

 

Jiang Muning’s gaze darkened slightly, “…Not really in the mood.”

 

Her voice was soft, but Chi Yunhan still heard it.

 

It was infuriating, instantly killing any mood.

 

Chi Yunhan pulled out a tissue to wipe the chair clean before sitting down.

 

Neither spoke further, both lowering their heads to focus on their own writing.

 

Perfumes have top, middle, and base notes. The top note was the intense fragrance of Tuberose, rich and alluring, blooming at night. The middle note evoked the tranquility of a forest, ultimately paired with the mystical creatures within.

 

As she wrote, a note was slipped over to her.

 

Jiang Muning: The formula is excellent.

 

Hmph.

 

Chi Yunhan tore off the note and stuffed it into her pocket before pushing her notebook toward Jiang Muning.

 

Jiang Muning opened it, fingers pinching the paper as she asked, “The formula smells wonderful. Is it the same as your pheromone scent?”

 

Chi Yunhan flushed with embarrassment.

 

“Talk about the perfume, not that.”

 

Jiang Muning carefully examined the notebook, closing her eyes to contemplate before opening them again. “Why don’t you become a perfumer? Your skills far surpass your sister’s—she has no talent for it at all.”

 

“I… sigh…” Chi Yunhan bit her pen. “I-I’m an Omega. Our country strictly prohibits Omegas from working as perfumers. Even buying perfumery supplies requires showing ID.”

 

In this society, everyone had a secondary gender—Alpha, Beta, or Omega—with pheromones running rampant. Each person’s physiology was unique, highly sensitive to scents. To protect its citizens, the government had a clear legal mandate: Omegas were barred from the perfumery profession.

 

It was widely believed that Omegas in heat could induce addiction and riots if their pheromones were infused into perfumes, making such fragrances no different from drugs.

 

Jiang Muning picked up the formula again. “This is excellent. You have a real talent for this—many professional perfumers aren’t as skilled as you.”

 

Chi Yunhan preened under the praise, her anger dissipating. “Right? I told you! The two of them just lack skill—one can’t blend, the other can’t appreciate scents. Neither is any good. Such a wonderful formula, and they still can’t get it right~”

 

She clicked her tongue in disappointment. “So disappointing. Utterly disappointing.”

 

Jiang Muning: “…That might be a bit harsh.”

 

“Anyway, I don’t like her.” It wouldn’t do to say too much—after all, Twilight was Jiang Muning’s boss. Badmouthing her in front of Jiang Muning would be rude.

 

Jiang Muning added very softly, “Maybe it’s just a lack of understanding. Once you get to know her, you might… come to like her.”

 

Chi Yunhan thought back to her interactions with Twilight. Yeah, right. Asking her to like Twilight was too much—not coming to blows was already an achievement.

 

She shook her head vehemently. “Impossible.”

 

Jiang Muning stood and walked to the window, standing motionless as she took several deep breaths.

 

A gentle breeze stirred, rustling the green trees outside. Cicadas chirped incessantly—a rare sight of lush summer vibrancy in this concrete jungle where dust swirled everywhere.

 

As evening approached, sunlight streamed through the transparent glass, landing on Jiang Muning’s ears. They felt hot, and though she wanted to pinch them, she hesitated, making no move to do so.

 

A long time passed, and the sun shone directly into her face, its glare becoming too harsh to look at for long. She turned around and casually drew the curtains closed.

 

Chi Yunhan sat on the chair, secretly sipping Jiang Muning’s tea. Even when caught red-handed, she showed no fear and said, “Can I lie on your bed for a while? I’ve been sitting in the office all day, and my back is sore.”

 

Jiang Muning gave a noncommittal hum as she sat at the desk, opened her laptop, and began typing.
Change the theme for Summer Fragrance.
New theme: Steel Forest.

 

After sending the message, Jiang Muning glanced absently at the screen, where department heads were voicing their opinions. Though there was no sound, the chaotic clamor was palpable.

 

Her gaze shifted toward the bed, where Chi Yunhan lay sprawled, legs swinging playfully in the air, absorbed in some amusement that elicited occasional laughter.

 

Drawing closer, she overheard Chi Yunhan giggling, “My Alpha is just too adorable, hahaha! She got shy—her ears turned red!”

 

“Though she’s a bit too soft-hearted. Before, whenever I complained about my sister, she’d join in scolding her. But today, she actually felt sorry for them. Tsk. But that just proves how kind she is! She’s the best Alpha ever!”

 

…

 

By evening, after dinner, Chi Yunhan lingered at the hospital again. Jiang Muning didn’t arrange for anyone to send her home, and Chi Yunhan didn’t mention leaving either.

 

They took turns showering.

 

Chi Yunhan climbed into bed with practiced ease, then mentally scolded herself—how had she gotten so addicted to sleeping here?

 

The click of the door announced Jiang Muning’s exit from the bathroom. She cast a glance at Chi Yunhan and remarked, “Yesterday, you took off your own pants. Not me.”

 

Chi Yunhan flushed. She knew it had been her doing—but seeing how eager Jiang Muning was, wasn’t she just offering an opportunity? With feigned restraint, she said, “Lend me another set of clothes tomorrow. I didn’t bring any.”

 

That morning, wearing Jiang Muning’s clothes to the office had drawn envious looks, even congratulations on her “newlywed bliss,” fueling her addiction to the charade.

 

Jiang Muning said, “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

 

“What is it?”

 

After a long hesitation, Jiang Muning finally spoke. “In three days, my attending physician will come. They might propose some treatment plans.”

 

Chi Yunhan had a rough understanding of Jiang Muning’s condition. She had previously offered to provide Soothing, but Jiang Muning always refused.

 

“Will you let me help with Soothing this time?”

 

“We’ll know after the doctor arrives.”

 

Jiang Muning straightened the bedsheets, which had been rumpled by Chi Yunhan’s earlier sprawl. Chi Yunhan pitched in, asking, “When do you think you’ll be discharged? If it’s this month, I’ll look for a new place. My current one isn’t convenient for work anymore.”

 

Living alone had been fine before, but now, commuting to Jiang Muning’s company was a hassle. She wanted to move somewhere between both workplaces.

 

Jiang Muning replied, “I’ll have my secretary handle it.”

 

“It’s not right to keep troubling your friend. I’ll find time to look around. You focus on recovering.”

 

“It’s no trouble. She has connections.”

 

They chatted a while longer before Chi Yunhan climbed into bed to scroll through her phone—mostly gossip, trending topics, news of which celebrity had tripped or cheated.

 

Glancing sideways, she noticed Jiang Muning’s laptop on the bed. Unlike her, Jiang Muning was ambitious, analyzing stock charts with their tangled red and green lines—none of which made sense to Chi Yunhan.

 

A while back, funds and securities were all the rage, so she followed the trend and bought a few thousand yuan worth. Somehow, everyone else’s investments soared while hers seemed lifeless, fluctuating up and down, driving her to the brink of frustration. The moment the date arrived, she hurriedly sold them off, too afraid to buy again.

 

After staring at the screen for a while, the laptop was lifted away. Jiang Muning lay down beside her, glancing over. “What’s wrong?”

 

“Just admiring how nice your pajamas look.”

 

Jiang Muning wore a particularly conservative style—long sleeves and pants, unfazed by the summer heat. Though, with the hospital’s air conditioning, sleeping wasn’t uncomfortable.

 

“Don’t stay in the hospital all day. Try to get out and walk around more if you can.” Chi Yunhan yawned before adding, “The stock market is ruthless—don’t invest too much money into it.”

 

Jiang Muning hummed in agreement, closed the page, and reached for the switch beside her, turning off the light.

 

It was only nine o’clock—quite early to sleep. The two lay stiffly side by side, not the least bit tired. Chi Yunhan’s earlier yawn had just been a bored sigh, not an actual urge to sleep.

 

Bored out of her mind, Chi Yunhan rolled over twice. Just as she was about to move again, Jiang Muning’s hand suddenly pressed down, restraining her restless body as she tucked the blanket around her. “Stop fidgeting.”

 

Chi Yunhan froze. “I’m not asleep.”

 

Jiang Muning withdrew her hand, and Chi Yunhan giggled quietly. “You’re really so dull in bed.”

 

“Don’t say things that could be misinterpreted.”

 

“But it’s true.”

 

After a while, only their breathing remained in the quiet night as both drifted off to sleep.

 

Over the next few days, Chi Yunhan stayed overnight at the hospital. She made a special trip back home to grab a few sets of her own clothes—all pajamas, of course.

 

During the day, she still had to wear Jiang Muning’s clothes.

 

Hehe.

 

Every morning, Chi Yunhan left early for work.

 

Jiang Muning would wake up, wash up, and wait for her secretary to deliver documents.

 

“President Jiang, Dailan has sent us a settlement agreement,” the secretary reported as soon as she entered. “From what they’re saying, there was a misunderstanding—the sample fragrance was sent by mistake. I’ve confirmed with the police that Chi Yurong wasn’t the one who packed it.”

 

“No settlement,” Jiang Muning said coldly.

 

The secretary ventured cautiously, “Do you think they’re lying? Should I investigate further?”

 

The atmosphere around them suddenly turned icy.

 

Jiang Muning’s voice carried a hint of indignation. “Chi Yurong is Chi Yunhan’s sister.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“The formula was given by Chi Yunhan.”

 

The secretary’s eyes widened in shock. “So… Miss Chi tried to poison you?”

 

This… was truly unexpected.

 

The bluntness and cruel reality of the statement made Jiang Muning’s expression darken as she glared at the secretary. But the secretary, in turn, saw a name flash across Jiang Muning’s face: Wu Dalang.

 

The secretary hurried to explain, “President Jiang, Miss Chi probably didn’t know you were the business partner. If she had, she definitely wouldn’t have tried to poison you—she loves you so much.”

 

“Enough. Shut up.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The secretary’s gaze held a trace of pity as she looked at Jiang Muning. Nearly getting poisoned to death by her own Omega’s concoction—now that was something.

 

Pretty tragic.

 

After a moment, Jiang Muning picked up the notebook again. “This isn’t that simple.”

 

“So… you mean we should still sue Chi Yurong?”

 

“Sue.”

 

Jiang Muning’s face was grim as she said coldly, “If the lawsuit doesn’t kill her, we’ll sue again until it does. She must rot in prison and pay the price she deserves for this matter.”

 

Damn, that’s ruthless.

 

The secretary nodded. “Rest assured, I’ll handle it immediately.” She gathered her things and was about to contact the lawyer when Jiang Muning called her back, handing her a piece of paper. “First, return to the company and assign the best perfumer to recreate this formula.”

 

The secretary responded with an affirmative, and as she folded the document, she caught sight of the words on it and remarked, “Isn’t this the formula sent by Dai Lan’s company? Are we still planning to buy their formula to produce this fragrance?”

 

“We’re not buying it,” Jiang Muning said, her eyes fixed on the computer screen—though the device wasn’t even turned on. She leaned back slightly and corrected, “This was a gift from my Omega.” She then reminded her, “Make one bottle green and another colorless. There are two methods of preparation listed here.”

 

The secretary noted everything down and was about to leave when Jiang Muning called out to her again. The secretary turned back wearily and asked, “President Jiang, is there anything else?”

 

“Help me find a house. It doesn’t need to be too big—just something small, around five or six hundred square meters will do.”

 

“…Alright.”

 

Early in the morning, and she was already filled with irritation.

 

…

 

Meanwhile, Chi Yunhan had been in a morning meeting all morning.

 

To reassure the employees, the company had disclosed some information, stating that PFE was a large corporation and unlikely to make things difficult for them. Chi Yurong would be able to return by the afternoon.

 

This explanation left Chi Yunhan somewhat displeased, but it made sense. If Twilight were to sue Chi Yurong, the public would likely criticize her for being petty and lacking magnanimity. Twilight would surely put on a show of generosity to maintain her image.

 

However, shortly after this news was announced, as they were leaving the meeting room, the general manager’s assistant rushed in with news that PFE’s legal team was downstairs. They refused any settlement this time and warned that if the company provided legal support to Chi Yurong, they would see each other in court.

 

The executives were stunned and quickly dispatched a few persuasive employees to handle the situation. The remaining higher-ups returned to the conference room to strategize.

 

Chi Yunhan nearly burst out laughing, covering her mouth. It seemed Twilight was a decent person after all—she greatly admired this approach.

 

For the rest of the day, the company’s executives were as frantic as ants on a hot pan, scrambling in panic. The design department, however, had little to do. Chi Yunhan waited until Lu Xiangyuan got off work and invited her to the neighboring mall to buy a suona.

 

They were definitely going to make some noise later.

 

The problem was, most music stores nowadays sold trendy and popular instruments, making it quite difficult to find a suona.

 

After searching high and low with no luck, Chi Yunhan nudged Lu Xiangyuan lightly with her elbow and gestured toward a storefront decorated for Valentine’s Day. “Xiangyuan, since it’s Valentine’s Day, don’t you think I should get something for Jiang Muning?”

 

“You’re taking the initiative? Shouldn’t she be the one giving you gifts? She’s the one pursuing you,” Lu Xiangyuan lectured. “A woman shouldn’t be too proactive—you lose if you’re too eager. You have to be reserved, understand?”

 

“But losing to her wouldn’t be so bad!” Chi Yunhan said shyly. “What if she gives me something? Should I not reciprocate?”

 

“And what if she doesn’t give you anything?”

 

That was a possibility too.

 

Chi Yunhan hesitated, then said, “Let’s just take a casual look around.”

 

As they walked down the aisle, they passed a perfume counter—specifically, PFE’s boutique. Despite Chi Yunhan’s dislike for Twilight, she still acknowledged her expertise.

 

“Maybe I should buy her a bottle of perfume,” Chi Yunhan mused. “That seems like a practical gift.”

 

Lu Xiangyuan walked ahead, took a few steps inside, then quickly retreated, saying, “What if she doesn’t like perfume? Besides, perfume is too expensive. Just get her a gift worth a few hundred yuan. Always remember your status—you’re poor.”

 

“Fine.” Chi Yunhan actually wanted to buy something more expensive. “Then what do you think would be better? Something more suitable for an Alpha.”

 

“Does your Alpha smoke? Get her a lighter. Or maybe a gaming controller.”

 

“Oh my god, what kind of straight Alpha are you? Buying those things would just encourage bad habits.” Chi Yunhan shook her head vigorously, adamantly refusing.

 

“Then let’s go check out the shops ahead. I know a place where she’ll definitely like the stuff.” Lu Xiangyuan led her forward. The narrow alley was crowded, and Chi Yunhan couldn’t help but wonder—was there really anything good sold here?

 

Just as she was thinking this, someone bumped into her. Lu Xiangyuan steadied her and slowly moved forward, warning, “Keep your pockets tight. Watch out for pickpockets.”

 

“Got it.”

 

Chi Yunhan stuffed her hands into her pockets and let Lu Xiangyuan guide her through the alley until they arrived at—a toy store.

 

“Ta-da! Surprised, huh? Let me tell you, this place sells premium stuff. Authentic Buzz Lightyear! Limited-edition teddy bears! Guaranteed your Alpha will love them!”

 

Chi Yunhan glanced at the toys inside. The only thing that caught her eye was a pastel-pink bear, but would Jiang Muning like it? She was so serious—hardly the type to have a girly side.

 

Lu Xiangyuan said solemnly, “Listen, don’t be fooled by some Alphas who act all proper. Deep down, they’re just like this store—soft and pink! And everything here is top-notch. Last time I came, I couldn’t even get my hands on the Rainbow Dash and teddy bear figurines!”

 

Unconvinced, Chi Yunhan turned back toward the narrow alley, squeezing through the crowd until she finally made it back to the perfume shop. “I still think this is more suitable.”

 

Then she froze.

 

Standing in front of the perfume counter was a woman in a suit. The woman was examining the perfumes when she noticed Chi Yunhan’s gaze and turned her head slightly. Her sharp eyes lingered on Chi Yunhan for a moment before shifting to Lu Xiangyuan beside her.

 

Lu Xiangyuan’s hand was still resting on Chi Yunhan’s shoulder. The next second, she quickly retracted it and whispered, “Let’s go. I don’t think the perfumes here are that great.”

 

Chi Yunhan didn’t move. “I see my Alpha.”

 

Lu Xiangyuan was stunned. She blinked, staring into the distance, then asked, “There are several Alphas here. Which one?”

 

“The prettiest one. She’s still looking at us.”

 

Jiang Muning leaned against the counter, her presence towering. If Chi Yunhan didn’t know her identity, she would’ve mistaken her for the shop owner—a wealthy Alpha.

 

Lu Xiangyuan pursed her lips, tempted to point out that she was also the company’s top beauty, widely recognized as the most attractive Alpha.

 

She asked again, “Are you sure she’s your Alpha?”

 

“Definitely… Well, we haven’t officially confirmed our relationship yet. But she’s kind of my Alpha, right? We’ve been living together for so long—it’s practically the same.”

 

Chi Yunhan pretended to be reserved, her eyes darting around. In truth, she was genuinely embarrassed, blushing like a girl who had just fallen in love and became flustered at the sight of her partner.

 

If Lu Xiangyuan hadn’t acted quickly and yanked her back, she might have bumped headfirst into the glass door. Chi Yunhan licked her lips, feeling extremely awkward.

 

She walked up to Jiang Muning and introduced, “Jiang Muning, this is my good friend, Lu Xiangyuan.”

 

“Hello,” Jiang Muning said politely.

 

“Hello to you too,” Lu Xiangyuan replied with equal courtesy.

 

Their gazes flickered back and forth between each other’s faces, the atmosphere between them oddly tense—almost excessively serious.

 

Jiang Muning’s brows were tightly knit, her expression visibly displeased, while Lu Xiangyuan wore an uncharacteristically solemn look, devoid of any friendliness toward her.

 

Lu Xiangyuan spoke first, “You’re Yunhan’s Alpha? The one she picked up from the Assistance Center?”

 

Jiang Muning replied stiffly, “She already introduced me.” Then, turning to Chi Yunhan, she asked, “Why are you here? Aren’t you working?”

 

Chi Yunhan answered, “No, my shift starts at two in the afternoon. I just came to look around. What about you? Why are you here?”

 

“Market research,” Jiang Muning said.

 

Instantly, over a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward them. Chi Yunhan felt uneasy and asked, “Did you come with your colleagues?”

 

Behind Jiang Muning stood more than ten people, all dressed in suits, some scribbling notes on blue-covered documents—utterly serious.

 

Jiang Muning nodded and asked, “What are you here to buy?”

 

Chi Yunhan had actually come to pick out perfume for her but didn’t want to say it outright. “Just browsing. I won’t disturb your work—good luck!”

 

“If you find a perfume you like, just mention my name. I need to talk to them for a bit, but I’ll come find you later,” Jiang Muning said, waiting for Chi Yunhan’s nod before turning to join the suited Alphas.

 

Chi Yunhan exhaled deeply and whispered to Lu Xiangyuan, “How do you think she’ll introduce me to her colleagues? Do you think she’ll say I’m her Omega or something?”

 

When she got no response, she nudged her. “Why are you spacing out?”

 

Lu Xiangyuan snapped out of it and scratched her head. “Yunhan, why didn’t you tell me you were matched with an Alpha like this?”

 

“I did mention it before! Weren’t you supportive? And I told you she’s really beautiful!”

 

“That’s true, but I didn’t realize…” Lu Xiangyuan glanced toward Jiang Muning, who was still nearby, and said, “I didn’t expect you’d be matched with this kind of Alpha. It’s surprising. Do you even know her well?”

 

Chi Yunhan found her behavior strange.

 

Whenever the two of them went out together, if Lu Xiangyuan didn’t release her pheromones, she could easily pass for an Omega. But now, Lu Xiangyuan stood ramrod straight, her usual lazy aura gone, carrying herself like a refined Alpha.

 

“What’s up with you today?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Chi Yunhan patted her waist. “You seem… kinda cool now.”

 

Lu Xiangyuan shrugged, then slumped her shoulders again. “What can I say? We’re best friends. I’m practically your family—gotta stand tall and put on a show, right?”

 

Chi Yunhan was deeply moved, her eyes brimming with tears, making her want to hug Lu Xiangyuan. But with Jiang Muning present, she couldn’t risk creating a bad impression, so she expressed her gratitude verbally instead.

 

“You’ve worked hard, Xiangyuan. You’re truly the best friend in the world, really,” Chi Yunhan said, already deciding to buy a “Best Friend Award” from Taobao for her later.

 

Standing around chatting felt awkward, so they pretended to browse perfumes while talking. Lu Xiangyuan picked up a scent strip, sniffed it, and remarked, “Have you noticed? Jiang Muning doesn’t seem like a poor Alpha.”

 

Chi Yunhan glanced in Jiang Muning’s direction. She was chatting with a few colleagues, all of whom were listening intently with their heads slightly bowed. Jiang Muning carried herself like a leader, exuding authority.

 

Jiang Muning looked over as well. Their eyes met briefly, and Chi Yunhan flushed, quickly lowering her gaze.

 

“I thought so too. I was stunned when I first saw her,” Chi Yunhan recounted her initial encounter with Jiang Muning. “Back then, she was standing alone in the courtyard, and no one dared approach her—except me!”

 

“She’s actually quite pitiful. When I met her, there was bl00d on her sleeve, and the staff member said something infuriating, asking me right in front of her if I wanted to abandon her.”

 

Lu Xiangyuan listened quietly before pointing out the key detail. “The bl00d on her sleeve… could it have been someone else’s? Her mental energy seems pretty high.”

 

“She just doesn’t talk much, but deep down, she’s soft-hearted. How could a delicate woman like her possibly get into fights? You can’t judge by appearances. Some people look dominant but have a submissive personality—like you.”

 

Lu Xiangyuan found the logic bizarre but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was off. After a long pause, she said, “I think you’re subtly insulting me.”

 

“Not at all. I’m just stating facts.”

 

Lu Xiangyuan: “…”

 

Forget it. She wasn’t going to argue with someone this biased.

 

Chi Yunhan eyed the perfumes on display, and the sales assistant immediately brought one over, saying, “Miss, if you like this, I can wrap it up for you right away.”

 

The bottle cost over ten thousand. Chi Yunhan was taken aback but maintained her composure. “No need, I’ll look at others first.” She whispered to Lu Xiangyuan, “Customers here must be loaded. The assistant didn’t even let me test it—just offered to pack it up.”

 

“Then let her pack it! Didn’t Jiang Muning say you could buy whatever you want? The new seasonal perfumes look nice—why not get two bottles?” Lu Xiangyuan teased. “It’s not like you’re paying for it.”

 

Chi Yunhan shook her head. “Better not. What would I do with perfume? I can blend my own.” Still, she glanced longingly at the equipment store next door. If she were to buy anything for herself, it would be perfume-making tools. Summer was the best season for crafting scents.

 

Fresh fruits and flowers yielded the finest essential oils, perfect for preserving and blending into fragrances.

 

Too bad she couldn’t buy any.

 

As Chi Yunhan looked away, Lu Xiangyuan added, “Why not check out the jewelry store next door? Get a necklace, a diamond ring, a whole set. Isn’t it great having an Alpha spoil you?”

 

“She’s given me jewelry before. I—”

 

“I don’t usually wear these things, no need to waste money.”

 

Lu Xiangyuan kept recommending items to her, which was unusual since they normally wouldn’t even glance at such luxuries when they came here as broke students. Chi Yunhan looked at her suspiciously.

 

“Let me tell you, the way to judge if an Alpha is worthy is by whether they’re willing to spend money on you.”

 

“Have you forgotten? She once sold everything she owned to give me a million.” Thinking about this still made Chi Yunhan feel guilty. She hadn’t repaid Jiang Muning yet, nor had she properly explained the situation. Ugh, how despicable.

 

Lu Xiangyuan shook her head and pointed to another counter. “Go check inside. I remember they released a new ‘Lovers’ Scent’ perfume that’s quite nice. It would make a perfect Valentine’s gift. I’ll keep Jiang Muning occupied here while you pick something out quickly.”

 

Chi Yunhan looked doubtful. “Can you really keep her occupied?”

 

“I’m practically your family! Of course I can!” Lu Xiangyuan declared confidently, almost thumping her chest for emphasis.

 

“Okkk!” Chi Yunhan glanced over to see Jiang Muning talking with a colleague, then quickly slipped away to the perfume counter.

 

The moment Chi Yunhan turned away, Lu Xiangyuan locked eyes with Jiang Muning across the long display counter.

 

Casually sniffing a scent strip, Lu Xiangyuan made idle conversation. “Jiang Muning?”

 

No response.

 

She tried again. “Jiang Muning? Twilight?”

 

Only then did Jiang Muning glance her way, eyes sharp as ice, an aura of cold intensity radiating toward her.

 

Lu Xiangyuan subtly shifted position, her voice turning frosty. “Have you cured your dissociative identity disorder? Does Yunhan know about your condition? I never expected someone like you would go to the Assistance Center to match with an Omega.”

 

“Miss Lu,” Jiang Muning replied calmly. “I heard Lu Mingjia has been looking for you everywhere. Isn’t it rather irresponsible to love ’em and leave ’em?”