She Acts Like a Big Shot [ABO] - Chapter 5

Xia Ke returned home in a very good mood.

She hadn’t expected Chu Xiangmo to give her her favorite fruit!

It was the famous Danjiu strawberries!

Though they’d been mass-produced and weren’t astronomically expensive anymore, they were still a luxury Xia Ke would never normally buy for herself—as a broke, working student barely scraping by.

She and Chu Xiangmo only lived two or three buildings apart.

But even with just that small distance, the contrast was stark. Her building was much older and in a less favorable location—hardly any sunlight made its way in. That’s why the rent was significantly cheaper than in the surrounding buildings.

If it hadn’t been the only place available to her when she first crossed into this world, she wouldn’t have chosen it.

Still, the area was well-situated, with good amenities and transportation. Xia Ke had no intention of moving out anytime soon.

Life was still far from luxurious, but at least she wasn’t starving like when she first arrived.

Back then, she had absolutely nothing. Not a single possession—just a local ID card and this tiny room she’d managed to rent. And not even a full apartment—a single room. She was still in a shared flat.

She had no idea why, but no one in this world ever seemed to question her sudden appearance.

She kept to herself, and so did her roommates. They coexisted peacefully, barely interacting.

Her flatmates had come and gone over time, but she alone had remained in the same place.

The landlord was a total mystery—never seen in person. Any issues were handled by the property manager. Rent was paid to a designated bank account, and even when she’d been late a few times, there were only some reminder texts—no real consequences.

If Xia Ke didn’t consider herself a principled and decent human being, she might have even tested what would happen if she never paid rent.

In the beginning, to survive, she followed the information on the student ID she arrived with and enrolled at Qingnan University. The rest of her time was spent working.

Every day was just: Make money, make money, make money.

Because she had so many classes, she couldn’t take on long-term jobs—only short-term part-time gigs.

Due to her gender situation, she couldn’t get too close to people, and kept most relationships superficial. She didn’t stay in the school dorms either, afraid someone might notice something was off.

Xia Ke: Just thinking about my part-time hustle history makes me want to cry.

She had met Chu Xiangmo during college.

He was one year above her, and fairly well-known on campus.

Not just for his looks, but also for his talent and achievements.

Of course, Xia Ke had overheard people gossiping in private about Chu Xiangmo’s pheromones—but bringing that up in public was considered rude, even taboo. Officially, his reputation revolved around his academic excellence and appearance. Many people lamented the “waste” that such a perfect man was “just a Beta.”

Xia Ke: Not really my problem, though.

What happened today was actually the second time she had witnessed Chu Xiangmo lose control of his pheromones.

In the original novel, it was mentioned that because Chu Xiangmo was a rather unusual Beta, he had one episode of pheromone instability during college—which was how he met Lin Lang.

But today’s incident?
Xia Ke was pretty sure that wasn’t in the original plot.

As she let her thoughts drift and wandered mentally through various possibilities, she slowly reached her door and placed her finger on the fingerprint scanner to unlock it. But the moment the door opened just a crack, she immediately sensed—something was off.

Huh?

Why did it suddenly smell so strong—and strangely sweet?

A complicated scent filled the air, and Xia Ke instantly felt something was wrong.

Just then, voices came from inside the apartment.

“Did someone just open the door?” asked a deep, magnetic male voice.

“No way! My roommate’s at LIE tonight—she won’t be back.”

“I think you might be wrong,” the man replied with a low laugh. Xia Ke could tell he was smiling with amusement—relaxed, confident, and completely unfazed—because he was looking right at her.

Her roommate was sitting on his lap, back turned to the door.

The man had a striking, wickedly handsome face, with seductive, narrow eyes full of interest. He stared directly at Xia Ke, who stood frozen in the entryway.

The heavy scent in the room made it obvious her Omega roommate was in heat, overwhelmed by desire. But the Alpha with her? He wasn’t affected at all. In fact, he looked perfectly calm, completely in control.

Ruthless, Xia Ke thought.

After living in this world for over four years, she knew all too well how powerful an Omega’s pheromones could be—especially during heat. She’d seen Alphas lose control before.

But this Alpha hadn’t.

Her roommate, already completely lost in lust, didn’t seem to hear anything he said. She clung to him, trying to kiss him, dazed and needy.

Xia Ke, already worn out from a long night of working and helping Chu Xiangmo get home, felt a wave of irritation and exhaustion hit her.

She had clearly told her roommate before: No bringing Alphas home. And absolutely no messing around in shared spaces.

The man had known someone was entering the apartment the moment the door opened—but he hadn’t cared. With a warm, willing Omega in his arms, why would he?

At first, he had been a little interested in this Omega. Her little games, her teasing—all of it had held his attention. But now, seeing how quickly she gave in, he found her boring.

Totally uninteresting.

The entire living room was thick with her pheromones, and his Alpha scent was just barely there—subtle but dangerous, like a spark near dry leaves. For an Omega in heat, even that faint trace could feel like a drug.

Together, their scents were overwhelming.

Even top-level Betas might struggle to resist that kind of pheromonal pressure.

After all, Betas aren’t immune—they’re just less sensitive.

And in moments like this, when powerful Alpha and Omega pheromones mix, they can arouse anyone, no matter if they’re Alpha, Beta, or Omega.¹

But Xia Ke? She stood completely still, calm, and untouched by the chaos around her.

The man was surprised.

Her eyes were bright and steady, like the first drop of dew on a jasmine petal—pure, delicate, and beautiful. There was a quiet strength in her gaze, and something about it made him wonder… what would she look like if desire ever clouded that calm?

He gave a low laugh, gently patting the Omega in his arms. His voice was soft, almost like he was whispering sweetly—but if you listened closely, there was no warmth in it at all.

“Looks like your roommate’s home.”

He pulled back his pheromones.

An Alpha who could control his scent so precisely, especially in a situation like this, clearly wasn’t ordinary. It showed discipline, restraint—and a heart that wasn’t easily shaken.

But with his pheromones gone, the Omega fell into confusion. When an Omega was in heat, they instinctively clung to the Alpha they desired. She whimpered in frustration, trying to hold on to him.

But the man? Cold and distant.

Effortlessly, he pulled away from her and sat up, his posture still relaxed and elegant—completely unconcerned that someone else was watching.

Xia Ke: …Are you serious right now?

Xia Ke quickly stepped into the living room and walked over to the air purifier. After turning it on, the strong mix of pheromones in the air began to fade. She looked calmly at the two people on the couch.

“Sir, are you just planning to leave like this?”

In this world, an Alpha who casually abandons an Omega in heat is generally not considered a decent person.

The man raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, and gave Xia Ke a faint, teasing smile.
“So what—are you saying we should continue here and let you watch?”

Xia Ke: …

She glanced at her roommate, who was clearly still struggling and uncomfortable. There was no time to argue about her bringing someone home. Xia Ke turned and pulled a suppressant injector from a drawer, preparing to administer it.

The man watched her movements with interest but didn’t interfere. After adjusting his clothes, he lowered his head and casually tapped away at his communicator. By the time he looked up, Xia Ke had already given the Omega the suppressant.

“Li Xiaozhu, are you back to your senses now?”

Li Xiaozhu slowly emerged from her hormonal haze, the pain and confusion fading. But instead of answering Xia Ke, she turned toward the man beside her—and her heart skipped a beat.

Whether earlier or now… there had always been something cold and calculating hidden behind the Alpha’s smiling eyes.

It was obvious. He had seen right through her act.

“S-Shen… Mr. Shen…”

“Looks like Miss Li is clear-headed now,” the man, now identified as Mr. Shen, said with a charming smile. His fox-like eyes were full of feigned affection—as if he were gazing at a lover—but his words were anything but sweet.
“Guess you didn’t expect your roommate to ruin the moment, did you?”

Li Xiaozhu’s heart dropped. Ignoring her lingering discomfort, she instinctively leaned into her Omega instincts, lowering her head to expose her soft, vulnerable neck.
“I-I never meant for this to happen… I really do like you, Mr. Shen…”

“Oh?” The man raised an eyebrow, his beauty almost otherworldly. “I thought you and Jiang Jing were working together?”

Xia Ke, who’d been standing quietly on the side, originally wanted to tell the two of them to take their drama elsewhere. But hearing that name made her freeze.

“Wait… Jiang Jing? Isn’t that your boyfriend?” she asked, confused.

Li Xiaozhu shot her a furious glare.

Xia Ke: …Ah.
I get it now. This was a setup.

So that’s what was going on—she’d walked in on a staged seduction scam.

Now she was angry.

Xia Ke tossed the empty suppressant into the trash and stood up.

“Li Xiaozhu, I don’t care what scheme you were trying to pull, but it’s obvious you’ve broken the terms of our co-rental agreement. I’m giving you three days. Find another place and move out.”

Li Xiaozhu’s frustration exploded. The usually delicate and pretty Omega now looked pale and worn out, her beauty dimmed by rage.

“You have no right to kick me out! My lease isn’t even up yet! Not even the landlord could throw me out!”

Xia Ke let out a short, cold laugh. Thankfully, dealing with awful roommates had taught her to be prepared. She also silently thanked this world’s strong legal system.

“You signed the contract, remember? If you don’t want to leave peacefully, we can go through the legal route. But then it won’t just be about moving out—you’ll owe me emotional damages too.”

“…And me as well,” the man beside them suddenly added with a smile. His voice was light, as if he was thoroughly enjoying the chaos and didn’t want to miss a chance to join in.
“Miss Li, you trespassed at a private party and tried to scam me—emotionally and physically. If this young lady hadn’t shown up in time, you might’ve succeeded. I think you owe me emotional damages too.”

Xia Ke: …

Li Xiaozhu: …

Xia Ke (internally): You look like the one who got scammed?! Can you not?! At least act like a victim!