What Should I Do If My Ex-Girlfriend's Pheromones Smell Too Good? - Chapter 4

When Shu Qiong opened her eyes in the infirmary, she was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling, unfamiliar bedding, and a familiar scowl.

“…?”

Yan Xiangyu was peeling an apple. Seeing Shu Qiong awake, she placed the fruit plate on the bedside table and glanced up. “Awake?”

Her tone still carried a hint of “you owe me for washing your underwear.” Shu Qiong blushed in embarrassment.

As her memories of fainting flooded back, Shu Qiong’s first reaction was mortification, followed by a desperate attempt to salvage her dignity.

“I really didn’t go into heat because of your pheromones!”

A stranger’s voice drifted from nearby, laced with amusement. “This child… what’s she thinking? This classmate isn’t even an Omega…”

Realizing there was a third person present, Shu Qiong shrank back under the covers.

The School Doctor pulled back the curtain and took Shu Qiong’s temperature. “You’re fine now. A mild fever is common during heat. You can leave after the IV drip is finished.”

Infirmary beds were in short supply. Theoretically, Shu Qiong’s condition didn’t warrant observation. Heat? Just administer an inhibitor shot, right? Isn’t that how every Alpha handles it?

The main reason was the overwhelming aura of the Alpha accompanying her. When she rushed in, carrying the unconscious student, her expression was terrifying. Shu Qiong had initially thought the student was suffering from some terminal illness.

But after a single injection of suppressants, the student woke up within two minutes—a recovery so rapid it seemed like she had been faking her unconsciousness.

After checking a few basic vital signs, the School Doctor sighed. “Well, she’s certainly a Mecha Department Alpha. Her physique is as robust as an ox.”

“You’re not trying to pull a prank on me, are you?” The School Doctor sternly reminded them of the Military University’s limited medical resources. “Young people can date, but please don’t waste medical resources.”

Shu Qiong’s face flushed crimson. “No…”

“Shu Qiong, I know you,” the School Doctor said, her expression softening slightly as she glanced at Shu Qiong’s file. Her tone became gentler. “I trust your character. It’s just that we’ve had incidents before where students came to the infirmary seeking thrills. That’s why I felt the need to say something. Now, you should rest.”

“I apologize, Doctor. This was my fault,” Yan Xiangyu said, rising to her feet. Her tone was unexpectedly sincere. “It happened so suddenly, I didn’t realize it was just her heat.”

Concern had clouded her judgment, and her impulsive actions had made her act foolishly.

The School Doctor left with a satisfied smile. “Alright, alright, you’re both sincere and well-behaved students. I don’t blame you.”

Shu Qiong, the “well-behaved student,” felt a bit awkward under Yan Xiangyu’s intense gaze.

Even though the School Doctor had confirmed that Yan Xiangyu’s Alpha pheromones hadn’t triggered her heat, the explanation that her heat had been brought on by “excessive emotional turmoil caused by her ex-girlfriend’s teasing” was still incredibly embarrassing!

Silently assessing her wavering integrity, Shu Qiong closed her eyes, steeled her resolve, and feigned a yawn before pretending to fall asleep.

After what felt like an eternity—long enough for genuine drowsiness to creep in—a soft chuckle reached her ears, sounding rather cheerful.

Shu Qiong instantly snapped awake.

A blush gradually spread from her earlobes.

“I wasn’t laughing at you,” Yan Xiangyu reassured her.

Shu Qiong didn’t believe her.

She gave up pretending to be asleep. “Then swear it.”

Yan Xiangyu fell silent.

Shu Qiong: “……” She closed her eyes again, feigning peaceful death.

Yan Xiangyu: “At least I’m being sincere.”

Refusing to make false oaths, she spoke only the truth.

Shu Qiong remained completely unconsoled.

Suddenly, Yan Xiangyu pulled her chair closer, leaning forward until Shu Qiong could feel her increasingly near breath against her closed eyelids.

A familiar scent drew closer, this time not pheromones, but the faint, comforting aroma of laundry detergent mixed with a hint of shampoo. Shu Qiong had always loved this smell, often burying her face in Yan Xiangyu’s shoulder to inhale it deeply.

The blush on her ears had spread rapidly across her cheeks, now impossible to conceal.

Yan Xiangyu’s breath paused at a critical distance, hovering in place.

She was adjusting the flow rate of Shu Qiong’s IV drip.

With her vision blocked, Shu Qiong’s senses of hearing and smell were heightened to an unbearable degree. Each second stretched into an eternity.

Shu Qiong couldn’t take it anymore, feeling on the verge of exploding.

She thought, What’s stopping me from just going for it right now?

Ah, forget it. I’m not the kind of irresponsible Alpha who flirts and runs. I’m chickening out again.

After adjusting the IV drip, Yan Xiangyu didn’t immediately return to her seat. Instead, taking advantage of Shu Qiong’s blindness, she let her gaze roam freely across Shu Qiong’s face.

Her eyes lingered on the smooth forehead, the faintly trembling eyelashes, the beautifully arched nose, before drifting down to her full, vibrant lips.

As if sensing this unsettling gaze, Shu Qiong’s lips immediately tightened, betraying her owner’s tension.

Yan Xiangyu leaned back, finally settling into her original position.

She immediately noticed the relaxation in Shu Qiong’s facial muscles.

Unable to resist, she chuckled softly.

How could she be so adorable?

She’s just so easily teased.

As expected, Shu Qiong’s eyes snapped open, her gaze fierce. “Don’t laugh!”

“This time, I really am laughing at you,” Yan Xiangyu admitted, her honesty almost painful.

Shu Qiong felt such honesty was entirely unnecessary.

She suddenly realized how passive she’d become in this tug-of-war of emotions. This can’t stand!

She immediately cast aside her embarrassment and indignation, bracing herself for a counterattack.

“Yan Xiangyu.”

It had been a long time since she’d called her by name so directly. Her emotions were a tangled mess, but her heart raced with anticipation for the impending retaliation. “Is your pheromone Longjing tea? Slightly astringent with a lingering sweetness, it smells wonderful. I really like it.”

She flashed her signature smile, fixing Yan Xiangyu with a steady gaze, careful to keep the smile from appearing smug.

Then, she triumphantly caught Yan Xiangyu’s gaze darting away.

Ha! Two years later, Classmate Yan hasn’t improved at all!

Shu Qiong’s confidence surged. It’s me, it’s me, it’s still me—the Yan Xiangyu who can’t handle a direct approach!

Filled with triumphant pride, Shu Qiong decided this was the perfect moment to end the conversation—a moment of Xiao Qiong’s MVP glory.

“Since you like it, I’ll send you some handmade green tea soap later.”

Shu Qiong opened her mouth, utterly amazed by Yan Xiangyu’s shamelessness.

Damn.

At the same time, the question that had repeatedly flipped back and forth became even more perplexing: So, what exactly was the green tea scent she had smelled in the bathroom? Pheromones or soap?

And Classmate Yan, isn’t it a bit narcissistic to shower with soap that smells like your own pheromones?

She was even planning to give her ex-girlfriend soap that smelled exactly like her own pheromones.

Shu Qiong was speechless, choosing to remain a dignified and silent observer.

This round-based contest finally reached its absurd conclusion, thanks to Yan Xiangyu’s shamelessness.

Xiao Yan’s MVP moment had arrived, but she graciously chose to share the championship glory with Xiao Qiong.

“If… I mean, if,” Yan Xiangyu said, her voice unusually lacking confidence but her tone firm, “if you ever feel pressured, uncomfortable, or annoyed by being around me, please tell me.”

Shu Qiong was stunned. This side of Yan Xiangyu was so gentle it was almost unbearable.

“Shu Qiong,” Yan Xiangyu called out, “promise me, okay? I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”

Shu Qiong feigned composure and mumbled a barely audible “Mm,” her voice no louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

The two women huddled together in the cubicle, sharing the fruit bowl in a rare moment of warmth. They finally returned to their dorm room only after the last drop of fluid had drained from the IV bag.

Just an hour had passed since their “heart-to-heart” in the hallway.

Shu Qiong felt utterly exhausted. The first day of school wasn’t even over yet, and she already felt like she’d lost half her life.

It was all too overwhelming; she couldn’t handle the intensity.

As soon as she opened the door to Room 406, Shu Qiong was unexpectedly seized in a powerful embrace. “Waaah! My darling daughter, you scared your mama to death!”

“……” Shu Qiong was speechless, struggling to break free from Jin Yan’s bear hug. “Sorry, sorry, my friend’s a bit… eccentric. Please bear with her…”

The stunningly beautiful Alpha with cascading golden waves glared at Shu Qiong, completely out of character. “Daughter, how could you be so heartless! Do you know how worried I was when I couldn’t reach you? I thought your pheromones might be…”

“Ahem!”

Shu Qiong viciously pinched the blabbermouth.

If she revealed Shu Qiong’s hidden condition in broad daylight, under everyone’s watchful eyes, her already precarious dignity in front of her ex-girlfriend would crumble completely!

Though Shu Qiong had no idea why Jin Yan was suddenly playing mother-daughter, she knew better than to trust her. Grabbing Jin Yan’s arm, she dragged her into her room.

Before closing the door, she patted Yan Xiangyu reassuringly. “Classmate Yan, don’t forget what I told you earlier, okay?”

Her relationship with Jin Yan was as straight as a stainless steel chopstick—no need for baseless jealousy!

In that moment, Shu Qiong felt like a mother juggling both cats and dogs, desperately trying to keep the peace. She was exhausted.

Yan Xiangyu watched expressionlessly as the woman who had been blushing and whispering intimately with her just moments ago now dragged another female Alpha into her room.

A lone Alpha and a vulnerable female, alone together in a room. One of them was in heat, and the door was securely locked from the inside—clearly they were about to share some intimate, private secrets.

Yan Xiangyu scoffed. Women’s words are lies, just like ghosts.

She sat down on the small sofa in the living room.

Gu Tiantian quickly tried to lighten the mood, explaining the situation. “After you went to the infirmary, that beautiful Alpha claiming to be Shu Qiong’s childhood friend showed up. She seemed really flustered.”

Su He Yi nodded slightly. “They seemed pretty close.”

Gu Tiantian quickly changed the subject. “But Shu Qiong is definitely closer to Classmate Yan, right?”

Su He Yi disagreed, “Tian Tian, while harmonious dorm relationships are important, we can’t dismiss the years of friendship between childhood friends, right?”

Gu Tiantian desperately wanted to shout at Su He Yi to stop adding fuel to the fire. Can’t you see Classmate Yan’s mood has gone from sunny to cloudy to a full-blown thunderstorm?!

Classmate Yan was genuinely jealous now—not the playful teasing she’d used to tease Shu Qiong with.

She suddenly realized she hadn’t just missed a year of Shu Qiong’s beautiful post-breakup youth, but also the decade before puberty, when other girls had been by Shu Qiong’s side.

Miss Jin’s silence was still intimidating. If Yan Xiangyu was like cold, elegant white porcelain, Jin Yan was like a vibrant ink-splashed brocade painting—completely different types, yet equally captivating.

Yan Xiangyu’s confidence crumbled. Though no one knew Shu Qiong’s preferences better than she did, what if…?

Feeling deflated, Yan Xiangyu’s jealousy now seemed utterly baseless. Expressing dissatisfaction as an ex-girlfriend?

How utterly ridiculous.

After wallowing in her self-pity for a while, Yan Xiangyu couldn’t sit still any longer. She stood up to return to her room.

But just as she rose, Shu Qiong opened the door, Jin Yan trailing behind with a look like she’d swallowed a fly.

Yan Xiangyu immediately sat back down.

The moment Jin Yan saw her, her expression twisted even further, and she quickened her pace, eager to escape this trouble spot.

Reaching the door of Room 406, she restrained herself. Aware that others were inside, she turned her head, grabbed a handful of her golden hair, and silently left.

Shu Qiong watched the scene with amusement. She couldn’t understand why Yan Xiangyu and Jin Yan always seemed to clash like oil and water—perhaps it was just a natural cat-and-dog rivalry.

After placating one and then the other, Shu Qiong livened up the dorm atmosphere. “Have we all added each other as friends yet? Let’s exchange contact information.”

Su He Yi and Gu Tiantian readily agreed, but when it came to Yan Xiangyu, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Yan Xiangyu broke the silence, asking in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Did you delete me as a friend?”

Shu Qiong: “…No. What about you?”

Yan Xiangyu: “…I didn’t delete you either.”

She paused, then couldn’t resist adding, “Did you block my updates?”

Shu Qiong gave her a speechless look. “I just haven’t posted anything in a year. Is that so strange? You haven’t either, have you?”

Yan Xiangyu’s ears flushed slightly. “I’ve been blocking you from seeing my updates every time I post.”

“…Huh?” Shu Qiong felt an inexplicable pang of being outdone. She forced a dry laugh. “What have you been posting? Let me see.”