Redeeming That Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Omega [Transmigration] - Chapter 12

Du Zisong’s pheromones hung dangerously in the air.

 

It wasn’t until Xu Ruozhou’s glands began to secrete a rose-scented fluid that she realized how perilous it was for a marked Omega to test an Alpha in this way.

 

“I’m sorry, Wen Yan, I…”

 

Xu Ruozhou started to apologize, but when she looked up, she froze at the sight of the Alpha’s crimson eyes.

 

She remembered Wen Yan’s gaze that day, and what had happened in the hotel. Instinctively, she took a step back.

 

The memory of the pain when the Alpha’s canines pierced her skin still felt fresh. Almost as soon as Du Zisong’s pheromones were released, the glands protected by her pheromone-blocking patch began to tremble faintly.

 

Seeing the Omega’s bewildered expression, Wen Yan forced a reassuring smile, but the pain made it impossible to control her facial muscles, resulting in an awkward, strained expression.

 

“I’m fine,” Wen Yan said.

 

She knew Xu Ruozhou had grown up in an orphanage and had only developed an understanding of gender much later in life. The Xu Family hadn’t hired a private tutor for her, so Xu Ruozhou had to learn about physiology online.

 

It was perfectly normal for her not to understand these things.

 

Once she had money, she would definitely hire a tutor for Xu Ruozhou. Wen Yan even had time to daydream about the future, but her glands, desperate for relief, wouldn’t let her off the hook.

 

“I’m fine,” Wen Yan repeated, as if speaking to Xu Ruozhou, yet also to herself.

 

But she was far from fine.

 

The Alpha was hunched over, kneeling on the ground, one hand pressed against her glands. Her entire body was taut as a drawn bowstring, ready to snap at the slightest provocation.

 

Forcibly injecting suppressants to delay her heat at this point could cause irreversible damage to her body.

 

Wen Yan felt as if her body had turned into a scorching furnace, every inch burning with lethal heat. She bit down on her lower lip in agony, her neck arching back, and a few drops of crimson bl00d trickled from the corner of her mouth.

 

“Wife, you should go out first,” Wen Yan managed to say, her voice strained. Xu Ruozhou froze, clearly not expecting this response.

 

Having grown up in an orphanage, Wen Yan had never received proper education on Alpha-Omega gender differentiation. Most of her knowledge had been hastily acquired after being recognized by the Xu Family.

 

Xu Ruozhou’s limited knowledge of physiology told her this was definitely her fault.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Xu Ruozhou pursed his lips and lifted the long hair covering the gland on the back of his neck. “Would you feel better if I bit you like last time?”

 

With that, the naive Omega actually peeled off the pheromone-blocking patch right in front of the Alpha, exposing that vulnerable patch of pale skin.

 

The Alpha’s eyes instantly turned a feral crimson. Xu Ruozhou caught a glimpse of Wen Yan’s beautiful face twisted into an almost savage expression, and a sudden wave of fear washed over him. He instinctively took a half-step back.

 

The Du Zisong pheromone in the air grew increasingly intense.

 

Feeling the warm breath drawing closer, Xu Ruozhou closed his eyes in apprehension. Yet the pain of being marked, so vivid in his memory, never came.

 

After an eternity, a pair of scorching hands pressed the transparent pheromone-blocking patch back onto his gland.

 

Xu Ruozhou froze, turning his head to find the Alpha’s mind clear. The bloodshot veins in her dark eyes had faded, returning to their usual calm.

 

But when he saw the full extent of the situation, his amber eyes widened in shock.

 

A tube of Alpha-specific suppressants, as thick as an arm, was jabbed into the gland at the back of the Alpha’s neck. Due to clumsy insertion, several small, bleeding punctures dotted the vulnerable area, crimson droplets falling onto the marble floor and staining it bl00d-red.

 

“It’s okay now,” Wen Yan said, misinterpreting Xu Ruozhou’s expression as lingering fear. “Thank goodness my pheromones didn’t trigger your heat.”

 

The Alpha, visibly shaken, gently stroked her heaving chest. “I only brought Alpha suppressants. I guess I’ll need to keep an Omega one on hand from now on.”

 

“Xu Ruozhou, don’t be afraid. I’ll keep my promise. I’ll never force you if you don’t want me.”

 

Xu Ruozhou could hear the sincerity in her voice, but he couldn’t understand why.

 

He stared at Wen Yan’s face—so beautiful it was almost impossible to tell if she was an Alpha or an Omega—for a long time, still baffled. How could someone change so drastically in just a day?

 

He had touched her face; it was clean, without heavy makeup or any high-tech devices that could alter her appearance.

 

The person standing before her now was Wen Yan, the Alpha who used to chase after Xu Mingxin all day, yet had confessed in the hotel that she actually liked Xu Ruozhou.

 

“Wifey, wifey?”

 

Wen Yan’s deliberately cute, childish voice interrupted Xu Ruozhou’s wandering thoughts.

 

Snapping back to reality, Xu Ruozhou noticed the burning flush on Wen Yan’s cheeks had faded. Her crimson eyes, once inflamed by her heat, had returned to their pure black, the only constant being her coquettish tone.

 

“Wifey, are you still mad?”

 

“I didn’t mean what I said earlier, sniff. Maybe you should just spank me instead?”

 

“As long as you stop being angry, you can hit my face too, not just my butt.”

 

The sudden onset of her heat had almost made her forget everything that had happened in the private room.

 

Swallowing his doubts, Xu Ruozhou helped the kneeling Alpha to her feet and guided her to the sofa in his office, usually reserved for guests.

 

“Wifey, you’re not mad anymore?”

 

Xu Ruozhou gave a curt nod.

 

Wen Yan’s eyes widened, and when she finally saw the amber-brown pupils in Xu Ruozhou’s eyes regain their usual calm, she let out a relieved smile.

 

I’ve appeased her, woof~

 

The female lead is truly reasonable. All my efforts…

 

“Don’t celebrate too soon,” Xu Ruozhou interrupted Wen Yan’s mental calculations.

 

Those reddish-brown eyes turned to her, scrutinizing every movement and expression inch by inch.

 

“Wen Yan, you need to give me a valid explanation. Why exactly do you refuse to cooperate with Yin Rong?”

 

Wen Yan had never told so many lies in her life.

 

Her throat parched, she grabbed a bottle of water from the office desk, stealing glances at Xu Ruozhou, who was deep in thought with her head bowed. Her heart pounded with anxiety.

 

Given the female lead’s intelligence, will this explanation even temporarily deceive her?

 

Finally, those reddish-brown eyes met hers again. Wen Yan’s throat bobbed nervously several times.

 

Has she figured it out?

 

If she has, will I be dissected?

 

The car’s right downstairs. Should I escape now?

 

If I escape now, I might have a few more days of freedom. At worst, I’ll just die again. Maybe I’ll even be sent back to my original world.

 

However, Wen Yan received an unexpected response.

 

Xu Ruozhou’s expression turned serious. “I hadn’t considered that thoroughly enough.”

 

Wen Yan waved her hands frantically. “No, no, I was just guessing.”

 

Xu Ruozhou frowned deeply. “You make a very valid point. I was too hasty this time.”

 

Her expression turned grave. “While the location of the land acquisition is crucial, safety must come first. I failed to consider this and didn’t personally inspect the site.”

 

“I’ll stabilize relations with Yin Rong first. Then, I’ll lead an inspection team to assess the land’s safety compliance. If it meets standards, we can resume negotiations with Yin Corporation. Does that sound acceptable?”

 

“Yes,” Wen Yan nodded casually, though she knew the deal was likely dead.

 

Once a safety inspection was demanded, Yin Rong would never cooperate with Xu Ruozhou again.

 

By the floor-to-ceiling window, Xu Ruozhou pulled out her laptop and resumed working with a focused expression. Wen Yan tilted her head, watching her from the sofa.

 

So earnest, so diligent.

 

So captivating.

 

Wen Yan believed that someone like Xu Ruozhou would thrive in any world, but…

 

My dear female lead, when will you realize the world’s malice toward you?

 

Those opportunities that come knocking aren’t gifts from heaven; they’re traps meant to clip your wings, confine you to a gilded cage, and turn you into a canary for their amusement.

 

Wen Yan pursed her lips.

 

Compared to these people, the Original Owner didn’t seem so detestable after all.

 

After all, the Original Owner was merely simple-minded and malicious, while these people’s malice was what truly harmed Xu Ruozhou.

 

As if destined to bear the title of “female lead,” Xu Ruozhou was born to misfortune.

 

Wen Yan’s thoughts drifted.

 

That’s why Xu Ruozhou ultimately…

 

“Wen Yan.”

 

“Huh?” Wen Yan snapped out of her reverie, nearly sliding off the sofa. “What are your orders, my wife?”

 

Xu Ruozhou’s gaze swept over Wen Yan, carrying a hint of scrutiny. Wen Yan noticed the lingering fear hidden in her eyes, guessing that Xu Ruozhou had likely sensed something amiss.

 

“You should go home first. I’ll be staying at the company these next few days.”

 

“Alright,” Wen Yan nodded.

 

Magpies chirped from the branches, and new green shoots sprouted from the withered trees.

 

The deathly still villa seemed to have reverted to its appearance from a decade ago.

 

Early the next morning, the Wen Family estate buzzed with activity. Servants watered the garden and playfully chased each other, the kitchen staff compiled grocery lists, and workers applied waterproof paint to the roof.

 

And then there was Lin X—

 

With Wen Yan having hired so many new staff, Lin X was running herself ragged, barely touching the ground as she rushed back and forth.

 

During Xu Ruozhou’s absence, Wen Yan had pondered the matter repeatedly and ultimately decided that it wouldn’t be right to dismiss Lin X.

 

The reason was simple: her conscience wouldn’t allow it.

 

Though she hadn’t committed the Original Owner’s misdeeds, she had assumed her identity, inherited her estate, and even retained her memories. It was only natural that she should bear some responsibility for the Original Owner’s past transgressions.

 

Wen Yan appointed Lin X as the estate manager.

 

“M-Master, what did you say?”

 

Lin X’s eyes widened, a rare crack appearing in her perfect mask. Wen Yan could still vividly recall her expression from that moment.

 

With unwavering patience, Wen Yan repeated, “Lin X, I’m promoting you to housekeeper.”

 

“From now on, you’ll be responsible for all matters, big and small, within the Wen Family.”

 

“Thank you, Master. Lin X will never betray your trust.”

 

Of course, Wen Yan wasn’t entirely defenseless.

 

Every night when Lin X brought her milk, Wen Yan would first send her away, then retrieve a silver needle to test for poison.

 

Later, she reasoned that since the original novel described Lin X using a slow-acting poison, she wouldn’t die immediately, and the silver needle might not even detect it. So, she resigned herself to blissful apathy.

 

Whatever they give me, I’ll eat.

 

Life was remarkably comfortable.

 

Judging by her current state, the poison’s effects likely hadn’t manifested yet.

 

Xu Ruozhou was spending unusually long hours at the company these days. Wen Yan remained holed up in the villa, idly scrolling through short videos out of sheer boredom.

 

It was through the news that she learned the land Yin Rong had endorsed contained dangerously high levels of toxic substances in the soil, rendering it unfit for use. Relevant authorities had already launched an investigation.

 

The land wasn’t actually owned by Yin Rong himself, but had been entrusted to him by a distant branch of his family. Wen Yan hadn’t expected Xu Ruozhou to act so swiftly.

 

Still, it was a good thing. The workers who had been building skyscrapers on the toxic land would now be spared exorbitant hospital bills.

 

Merit +1

 

That evening, Xu Ruozhou returned, travel-worn but with eyes shining brightly.

 

Hearing the door open, Wen Yan dropped a half-chewed potato chip onto the floor, her dark eyes lighting up as she scurried over. “Honey, you’re back!”

 

“Have you eaten? Want some water?”

 

Xu Ruozhou shook her head, her face weary but her eyes blazing with intensity.

 

“Wen Yan, you were right.”

 

“Yin Rong is shady. I almost fell for his trap.”

 

Wen Yan sidled up to Xu Ruozhou, playfully squeezing her shoulder and feigning surprise. “Oh my god, it really was toxic land?”

 

“If that land had been developed, who knows how many people would have been harmed? Yin Rong’s conscience is truly pitch-black.”

 

“We need to stay far away from scammers like him. Ugh—”

 

“So disgusting.”

 

Xu Ruozhou nodded. “Don’t worry, I know my limits.”

 

Wen Yan smiled and fell silent.

 

Too much is as bad as too little. Given the female lead’s heightened vigilance, she’d likely be wary of anything Yin Rong said next.

 

This time, she’d helped the female lead avoid the toxic land plot. Hopefully, Xu Ruozhou wouldn’t end up being kept by that hypocritical pervert Yin Rong either, Wen Yan thought.

 

Still, Yin Rong was getting off too easy.

 

In the original novel, he’d faced the female lead’s revenge, lost his wife and children, and gone bankrupt. Driven mad, he’d been kicked into a river by an unknown assailant. His corpse was retrieved days later, bloated and decomposed beyond recognition.

 

“Tsk tsk,” Wen Yan murmured, grabbing a chip and taking a bite.

 

He’s getting off way too easy.

 

“Oh, right.”

 

“Is there anything else?” Wen Yan asked, blinking at Xu Ruozhou with feigned confusion, chip bag in hand.

 

Her amber eyes were fixed on the busy figure across the room.

 

Alarm bells rang in Wen Yan’s mind.

 

I’m doomed!

 

I forgot to let Lin X leave.

 

Xu Ruozhou’s expression was ambiguous, somewhere between a smile and a sneer. “Wen Yan, do you ever take anything I say seriously?”

 

Wen Yan sensed a hint of danger in the curve of her lips.

 

Noticing their gazes, the figure checking the kitchen’s grocery bills paused slightly.

 

Wen Yan tossed aside the potato chips and scrambled to drag Xu Ruozhou back to the bedroom.

 

Accustomed to her eccentric behavior, Xu Ruozhou showed no surprise. Instead, she settled leisurely into a chair, curious to hear what novel explanation Wen Yan would come up with this time.

 

“Honey, I actually promoted Lin X to housekeeper. Aunt Wang is getting older, and managing the accounts all the time is becoming difficult for her.”

 

“Oh?”

 

Seeing the Alpha’s cautious expression, Xu Ruozhou nearly laughed in exasperation. “Didn’t I tell you there was something suspicious about Lin X?”

 

“What’s the excuse this time?”

 

Wen Yan knew the female lead would eventually discover that Lin X hadn’t left the Wen Family and had even been promoted to housekeeper. She had prepared her explanation well in advance.

 

“Honey, Lin X is injured and can’t do rough outdoor work,” Wen Yan said, her expression freezing on her face as she quietly watched Xu Ruozhou. His gaze, however, signaled her to continue.

 

Feeling a little guilty, Wen Yan lowered her lashes, too embarrassed to explain how Lin X’s injuries had occurred. She offered a vague explanation instead.

 

“She always wears long sleeves and pants, no matter the season, because her legs, waist, back, and hands are covered in burns. The delayed treatment left lasting problems; the injuries flare up whenever they get wet.”

 

“She wouldn’t be able to find work in that condition, so I thought…”

 

Wen Yan observed Xu Ruozhou’s expression. Seeing no anger, she murmured, “Since she’s worked for the Wen Family for so many years, she’s efficient, intelligent, and quick to learn. Why not just make her the housekeeper?”

 

Xu Ruozhou stared at her in silence for a long moment before letting out a soft chuckle.

 

“Alright, I’ll take your suggestion.”

 

!!!

 

Did I really get away with that so easily?

 

The Alpha’s eyes lit up, her gaze eager and expectant, like a dog begging for a treat, Xu Ruozhou thought.

 

Innocence and kindness were precious qualities, but if exploited by someone with ulterior motives…

 

They could become a deadly weapon.

 

Xu Ruozhou’s gaze shifted to the tightly closed door, the smile slowly fading from his lips.

 

At the same moment, the black-haired maid lowered her lashes as she quietly descended the stairs.