Stealing Moonlight (Lily ABO) - Chapter 5

Ruan Jing didn’t actually know much about Alphas, as she had only differentiated two months prior.

She was one of the rare female Alphas, making up the smallest percentage of all genders, reportedly less than 5‰. In the entire Chemical Engineering department at Huaxi University, there were only two, and across the whole school, including faculty and students, no more than 30.

To put it nicely, she was a “phoenix feather” – rare and exceptional. To put it bluntly, she was a definite “anomaly.”

Ruan Jing differentiated later than most Alphas. Alpha differentiation usually happens between 12 and 14 years old, Omegas slightly later, generally before 16. The differentiation period typically lasts 6 to 14 months.

She was almost 18 when she got into university. During her entrance physical exam, the doctor said that due to long-term malnutrition, it was highly likely she would remain as she was and not differentiate, “like a infertile Beta.”

The doctor was a marked female Omega, probably in her thirties, who smelled like freshly baked sponge cake. She enthusiastically suggested pheromone-assisted therapy, but Ruan Jing refused.

On one hand, her family was struggling. Ruan Jing had never seen her father since she was little, and apparently, her mother raised her alone. After she got into university, they, a solitary daughter and widow, were less than weeds in the village, easily trampled by anyone.

On the other hand, Ruan Jing didn’t care if she was an Alpha or a Beta, or if she could have children. The social status of female Alphas was awkward; while Alphas were inherently physically superior and natural leaders, female Alphas, due to their scarcity, were sometimes even considered inferior to Betas. However, she never mentioned this to her mother, who had always been very proud of her.

Ruan Jing’s late differentiation period was suddenly compressed to about a week. It was an intense and secret experience, more severe than growing pains. She had a persistent high fever, as if all her tendons and bones were being forcibly stretched.

After the differentiation period ended, Ruan Jing lost over ten catties and grew 3 centimeters taller. She became even more sharp and refined. At the same time, her five senses became exceptionally sensitive, especially her sense of smell. Not only could she detect extremely subtle scents, but she could even discern others’ hidden emotions and obscure desires that they tried to conceal.

“Are you sure? Is it possible this is just your… imagination? After all, the pheromone content of most female Alphas is not enough to support higher-level five senses. The situation you describe… usually occurs in a very small number of male Alphas, like that student Shao from your department, you know him, right?”

The male Beta doctor from the school hospital’s endocrinology department said this, even though his bl00d test results showed that Ruan Jing’s pheromone content was far above the Alpha standard.

“…I guess I was overthinking it. Thank you, teacher.”

Ruan Jing calmly bowed to him and turned to leave. Only after closing the door did she dare to breathe deeply.

The doctor’s disdain and disgust emitted a rancid, sour smell, like a year-old unwashed kang mat, making Ruan Jing almost vomit on him.

Ruan Jing took her medical record to the counselor to modify her file. The counselor wasn’t there, but Shao Huainian was sprawled on the dark red sofa in the counselor’s office, smoking. The moment he saw Ruan Jing, he clearly froze, and the ash falling on his hand burned him, making him shake his hand sharply.

“Ruan Jing, you… got prettier?” Shao Huainian casually tossed his cigarette butt on the ground and got up, walking towards Ruan Jing, his eyes fixed on her face.

Ruan Jing had always been quite pretty, Shao Huainian had noticed her long ago. It was that kind of rustic, earthy beauty common in country women. She dressed plainly too; even his mother would probably find her clothes old-fashioned.

But now, her beauty was different. It was as if a clay bodhisattva, once cold with incense smoke and covered in cobwebs, had been dusted clean of dirt and grime, and had its golden body reshaped. Looking at her now, she was actually more exciting than those “little playthings” he had seen.

“You’re here to… modify your file, right? Give it to me; I’ll tell Brother Zhang later.”

Ruan Jing handed over the medical record, politely said thank you, and was about to leave, but Shao Huainian stopped her.

“You haven’t gotten your free inhibitor patches yet,” Shao Huainian reminded her.

Ruan Jing was a bit confused. The school’s free inhibitor patches required an application a semester in advance, and spots were limited. Ruan Jing knew that even if she applied now, it was highly unlikely she’d get one.

Of course, Shao Huainian definitely had them.

Shao Huainian was very well-known; even Ruan Jing, who usually paid no attention to outside affairs, had heard rumors about him. They said his father was a high-ranking official in the city. Forget about counselor Zhang Limin, even the professors treated him politely, so good things at school naturally never missed him.

Shao Huainian hooked a key from the pen holder, opened the counselor’s desk drawer, grabbed a pack of inhibitor patches, and tried to shove them into Ruan Jing’s hand. Ruan Jing didn’t take them.

“Don’t be scared! I’m giving you some of mine. What kind of relationship do we have? From now on, what’s mine is yours.”

Shao Huainian grabbed Ruan Jing’s hand and slapped the pack of inhibitor patches into her palm. The already ostentatious leather scent around him provocatively swirled around Ruan Jing, mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible hint of osmanthus.

“Hey, Ruan Jing, I’m a little curious, do you female Alphas also have p3nis? Is it something you’re born with, or did it just grow out during these past few days of differentiation?”