Pheromones in Perfect Harmony (GL, ABO) - Chapter 1
“Zhu Banxue, don’t forget to pick up your differentiation report tomorrow, no more forgetting things,” the nearly centenarian Zhu Rong reminded her as he slowly put on his work uniform, preparing for his shift at the parts factory.
The young girl who had rushed out of her room grabbed the terminal from the table, mumbling through a mouthful of bread, “Got it, Grandpa~”
She hastily gulped down half a glass of water from the filter to ease the dryness in her body, then glanced at her grandfather’s half-grayed hair and added sternly, “And don’t cover anyone else’s shift this time!”
“I’m definitely going to rank first in this exam then we’ll get the scholarship!”
“Alright,” Zhu Rong bent down to tie his shoelaces, picked up his worn toolbox and citizen terminal, and replied with a smile.
Banxue pouted slightly. “Hmph, I don’t think you believe me.”
“I do. Our Xiaoxue is the best,” Zhu Rong took the nutrient paste she had prepared for him, ruffled her hair with his calloused hand, and finally left.
The bright smile on Banxue’s face faded as the iron door slowly closed behind him. She patted her cheeks with her slender, pale arms.
Taking a deep breath, she quickly packed up, grabbed her citizen terminal, and hurried to catch the transport.
For ranking first in the Mecha Engineering Department, the academy awarded 5,000 starcoins at the end of the term. Second place, though still rewarded, only received half 2,500 starcoins while third place got even less.
Yet even this small sum was crucial for their household of two.
Though it was the year 1049 in the stellar calendar, with basic healthcare and education being free, and though the impoverished Zhu family even qualified for welfare subsidies, they were still burdened by the massive debt Banxue had incurred as a child for genetic enhancement serums after an accident.
They lived frugally, having not bought fresh vegetables in years.
Banxue took a sip of the nutrient paste, long accustomed to its rough, tasteless texture.
Her gaze grew distant, lost in thought, until the hover bus arrived in front of her, snapping her back to attention.
It was barely 8:30 when she reached the Mecha Academy.
With 30 minutes left before the exam, she stopped before the announcement board’s large screen.
The results for the Mecha General Knowledge exam were already posted two names tied for first place: Shi Ni and Zhu Banxue.
Her brow furrowed slightly as her eyes lingered on the name “Shi Ni,” as if she could peel it off the screen.
Shi Ni, the outstanding freshman representative, had taken first place in every academy exam so far. Banxue had developed an instinctive rivalry with her, even considering skipping a grade to avoid competing.
She sighed faintly, grinding her teeth.
This girl was already so wealthy, why did she have to be so relentless about the scholarship? Tch.
Banxue had seen Shi Ni arrive in several different hovercars, all the latest high-end models.
Classmates began arriving, greeting her warmly.
Banxue instantly brightened, returning their cheerful greetings.
“How’s your exam prep?” Wang Xin suddenly popped out from the crowd, slapping Banxue’s shoulder.
Banxue blinked in surprise. “Weren’t you taking leave today?”
Wang Xin shrugged. “What could I do? My dad said if I fail, he’d hire a tutor to drill me all summer. Ugh~”
“You’re so rude, dear,” Zhu Banxue said disdainfully, swatting away her hand. “This attitude will leave you single forever.”
“Tch, no right to speak for someone perpetually single. Just shut it,” Wang Xin retorted, looping her arm around Zhu Banxue’s as they walked affectionately toward the practical exam room.
Turning down a less crowded hallway, Wang Xin nudged her shoulder. “Why don’t I just lend you the money? Feels like you’re gonna fail Shi Ni’s exam again.”
“No loans! I’ll pass this time,” Zhu Banxue sniffed, her proud little expression utterly defiant.
The weekend odd jobs she’d done with her grandfather involved crafting hundreds of basic components for this very exam. She could assemble them blindfolded now.
“Hahaha, sure, sure,” Wang Xin replied dismissively.
Zhu Banxue: “…”
This childhood friend needed a good smacking.
When Wang Xin unexpectedly hit her ticklish spot, Zhu Banxue raised her arms defensively and dodged away. “Oh, you little!”
Escaping attack range, Wang Xin’s mouth ran ahead again: “This humble Taoist divines that not even a three-thousand-foot waterfall could match the karmic depth between you and Shi Ni.”
“I’ll show you karma, you rotten egg!”
Zhu Banxue, less athletic, soon fell behind their playful chase. Their laughter echoed until they nearly reached the exam room, where Shi Ni appeared around the corner.
As the saying goes, speak of the devil. Wang Xin pivoted with catlike reflexes to avoid collision, while Zhu Banxue plowed straight into Shi Ni’s arms.
Wang Xin glanced back and immediately noped out of there.
Shocking! Zhu Banxue throwing herself at the enemy!
This wasn’t a spectacle for mortal eyes. She saw nothing. Her retreat put rabbits to shame.
Shi Ni staggered back a step from the impact, bewildered to find herself embracing someone. Before she could react, Zhu Banxue steadied herself and shoved away in panic.
Shi Ni: “…”
“I didn’t mean to!” Zhu Banxue’s fair skin flushed from neck to earlobes, though she straightened proudly, utterly unrepentant.
Shi Ni studied her briefly before responding flatly, “Oh.”
Zhu Banxue: “…”
Fine. Incompatible zodiac signs, no explanation needed.
She turned to leave.
This was mortifying. She’d rather not see Shi Ni again today.
A faint whiff of floral pheromones drifted past. Shi Ni blinked in confusion and caught Zhu Banxue’s wrist.
Startled by the grip, Zhu Banxue’s lingering blush deepened as exam-related irritation resurfaced. She yanked her hand unsuccessfully. “What now?”
“I already apologized!”
Rich people weren’t intimidating. She refused to be cowed, hmph!
Shi Ni couldn’t fathom her bristling reaction. Zhu Banxue’s ink-dark eyes held a clarity and vitality when glaring. As Shi Ni hesitated to explain, the pheromone scent vanished.
Shi Ni: “…”
Zhu Banxue scoffed, “Jealous my hands are prettier than yours? Let go!”
After two tugs, she freed herself with a final glare and marched off triumphantly.
Shi Ni remained, eyebrows arched. She examined her palm, rubbing her fingers thoughtfully.
The texture had been pleasant.
Dismissing the fleeting thought, she entered the exam room.
Today’s test involved practical assembly of mecha components, graded on finished product quality, completion time, and procedural precision.
Zhu Banxue had a way with people wherever she went she could strike up a conversation with someone even across a meter-wide workstation.
Shi Ni, on the other hand, was too aloof. Even after over a year in the same academy, few had actually interacted with her. As usual, she found her assigned workstation without a word and idly scanned the pre-prepared components and options laid out on the table.
The seemingly chaotic array of parts and toolkits took her only seconds to assess. She already had a rough idea of how many components there were and how many combinations they could form.
Variety and quantity determined the cost of trial and error time or points.
While others were still grumbling about monthly exams and how the professor hadn’t gone bald yet, Zhu Banxue chimed in casually while finishing her own scan of the workstation.
Then the VR timer appeared 10, 9, 8… 2, 1 exam start.
A holographic proctor above each candidate flashed a red light. Zhu Banxue swiftly dumped out the components and began sorting them.
Shi Ni, meanwhile, reached into the toolkit at random seemingly haphazard, yet every part she grabbed matched her next step with precision.
Out of the twenty-plus examinees, only the two of them saw their scores climb the fastest.
To be precise, Shi Ni was still far ahead of Zhu Banxue.
Zhu Banxue focused entirely, her concentration sharpening as she rapidly sorted through the components her mind filled with Shi Ni’s infuriatingly beautiful face.
Can’t let her take first place!
She bit her lower lip, forcing herself to speed up.
The other examinees were also deep in their work when, inexplicably, the faint scent of cilantro no, pheromones drifted through the room.
Damn it!
Which inconsiderate idiot skipped their suppressants during their heat?
No matter how unpleasant, it was still an Omega’s pheromones. Some were so startled their hands trembled crack, crack, crack, one after another, multiple parts were ruined.
Shi Ni ruined one too.
The sweet pheromones nearly triggered her own, her heart pounding wildly.
She distinctly remembered there being no Omegas listed in A01’s records.
Others glanced around, searching for the culprit, but found no one suspicious. Just as they frowned, ready to report it, the scent vanished.
Hold it in, you bastard! If you won’t take suppressants, at least pop a sugar pill! Or get a damn injection! With pheromones this awful, you’ll never find a mate stop polluting the air!
The scent was gone… Shi Ni lifted her gaze, staring straight at Zhu Banxue’s workstation. The other girl wore a look of intense frustration, already in the component fusion stage.
Probably not her. What Omega goes around slinging arms over shoulders and calling everyone “sis”? Shi Ni dismissed the thought and turned back to her work.
The exam continued. Amidst the others’ mistakes, Zhu Banxue’s score skyrocketed, leaving everyone else far behind.
With time running short, the others grew frantic, prioritizing quantity over quality.
Zhu Banxue finally relaxed after completing an A-grade component but then, remembering Shi Ni’s usual “arrogant” performance, she immediately grabbed more parts to start a second.
Soon, the workshop echoed with more crack, crack, cracks of ruined components.
“……”
AAAAAAAAH, this jerk must be born defective! What kind of Omega has century egg pheromones?!
Shi Ni was genuinely startled this time. She hastily threw down the parts and quickly took out a sugar pill from her terminal, popping one into her mouth.
As a high-level Alpha already entering adulthood, this was the first time someone else’s pheromones had made her feel so restless and nearly lose control.