ATIMFL – Chapter 1

Li Chu never thought something like transmigrating into a book would happen to her.

Right now, she was staring blankly at the water in her hand, utterly stunned.

Before the car accident, Li Chu had just finished reading an ABO romance novel.

It was her first time reading this genre, where humanity’s primary sex wasn’t male or female, but Alpha, Beta, and Omega.

Alphas and Omegas were relatively rare, their pheromones mutually attractive. Betas had no pheromones and couldn’t smell them, essentially being ordinary people.

She had clicked on it with great interest, only to discover in the first chapter that the cannon fodder character—who pretended to seek reconciliation but actually planned to drug the female lead and take compromising photos—shared her exact name.

This cannon fodder character had very little screen time, maybe three or four hundred words at the beginning of the first chapter, before the main plot began. Li Chu had skimmed past it, even jokingly commenting under the first chapter that the cannon fodder had her name.

Someone had replied, suggesting she immediately read and memorize the entire text to avoid transmigrating.

Li Chu had laughed it off then, but now she just wanted to scream, “Sister, take back your prophecy!”

【The magnificent crystal chandelier reflected her pale face. She knew what kind of future awaited her.】

This was the original text’s description of the cannon fodder after her scheme was exposed, but Li Chu felt it vividly described her current situation as well.

Help!!!! Why did I have to transmigrate!!! Why is it a death sentence right from the start!!!

Li Chu’s hand holding the water glass trembled slightly. Steeling herself, she looked up at the woman standing before her. When she saw her face clearly, her breath caught.

Ning Manqing truly deserved to be the female lead of this novel, later hailed as a goddess-level beauty in the entertainment industry. Although she hadn’t differentiated yet, her beauty was enough to make Li Chu scream internally a hundred times.

Ning Manqing possessed a grand, radiant beauty. Her features leaned towards classical, exuding an elegant and noble aura like a stunningly talented daughter from a prominent family described in ancient poems, like a beauty carved from high-quality jade. Yet, amidst her refined grace, there was a sharpness, her eyes seemingly capable of piercing through people’s hearts.

Right now, those eyes were fixed on her, and a hand reached for the glass of water she held.

“Wait.”

Li Chu couldn’t help but call out, stopping Ning Manqing’s hand mid-air.

Li Chu knew that Ning Manqing was ostensibly a Beta. But after drinking this drugged water, she would be stimulated to awaken and differentiate into an Omega. Then, she would meet her perfectly compatible male lead and begin a life blessed with both love and career success.

She had no intention of interfering with the female lead’s romance or career trajectory. The problem was, if the female lead drank this water, she, the cannon fodder, would be doomed, heading towards the miserable end described in the original novel.

“What tricks are you playing?”

Ning Manqing looked at the woman whose face screamed that something was wrong, her eyes holding a hint of coldness.

First, she invited her over, showering her with flattering words and offers of resources, saying she should forgive her previous attitude and that drinking this water would bury the hatchet.

But she held the glass in silence for a long moment, and just as Ning Manqing was about to reach for it, she stopped her. Ning Manqing wouldn’t believe there wasn’t some scheme afoot.

“I just suddenly got thirsty. I’ll pour you another glass.”

Li Chu’s fingers tightened unnaturally around the glass wall. She knew Ning Manqing was suspicious.

The original owner already had a bad relationship with Ning Manqing. From the limited descriptions, it was clear the original owner was deeply jealous of her. Ning Manqing wasn’t some magnanimous saint either. Even though Li Chu didn’t intend to let Ning Manqing drink the drugged water, if Ning Manqing discovered the peculiarity of the water and the hidden camera in the room, her fate probably wouldn’t be much better than the original owner’s.

She couldn’t leave any evidence. Li Chu resolutely downed the half-glass of water, wiped the droplets from her lips, and poured Ning Manqing a fresh glass.

She forced herself to appear calm. Ning Manqing glanced at her, took the glass, but didn’t drink.

Li Chu didn’t care whether she drank it or not. She had already planned it out: although she didn’t know the original owner’s secondary gender, as long as she got Ning Manqing to leave before the drug took effect, she could then call the original owner’s agent saved in the phone. In the meantime, she’d destroy the camera, the glass, and other evidence. After getting her own physical condition sorted out at the hospital, she could perfectly dodge this plot point.

Whatever happened to the female lead after that was none of her business. She’d just avoid her. Worst case scenario, she could just leave the entertainment industry!

But the drug took effect faster than Li Chu had anticipated. She gripped the empty glass tightly, lowered her head, and said to Ning Manqing, “Thank you for coming today. I won’t see you out. I need to use the restroom, so I probably can’t walk you out.”

Without waiting for Ning Manqing’s reaction, Li Chu hurried into the bathroom.

As soon as she entered, her legs felt weak, and she leaned against the sink. The cool marble offered some relief, and she managed to stand up straight.

Li Chu glanced in the mirror. Seeing the reflection, her eyes widened in astonishment, her expression freezing.

She didn’t know what the original owner looked like, but the face in the mirror was identical to her own.

But she couldn’t dwell on that now. She turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on her face. Droplets slid down her flushed cheeks, dampening the collar of her summer dress.

Li Chu cursed the drug’s potency internally. She reached into her pocket, only to realize the original owner hadn’t kept her phone on her person.

Her legs could barely support her anymore. A hidden fire surged up her spine and through her blood. She couldn’t help but press her thighs together.

She wept inwardly. She shouldn’t have drunk it! She could have just pretended to slip and drop the glass!

A sweet, cloying peach scent exploded in the room, making Li Chu dizzy. The heat burning within her made her feel faint, too disoriented to even pinpoint the source of the fragrance. She forcefully pushed down the bathroom door handle, wanting to get out and find the phone to make a call.

Ning Manqing had intended to leave.

Although she didn’t know what Li Chu was planning, her reactions had been bizarre. But that wasn’t her concern.

As she reached the door, ready to leave, she caught a very faint scent of peach pheromones.

Wisps of it, like a sweet, woven cage, trapped her within this small space, leaving her bewildered yet craving more. An unfamiliar palpitation arose in her heart.

Ning Manqing thought, she shouldn’t be able to smell pheromones. She was a Beta; the hospital report from when she turned eighteen stated it clearly.

But the pheromone scent grew stronger, proving her earlier perception wasn’t mistaken.

The tip of her tongue seemed to taste the sweetness of peaches. Her brain felt slightly oxygen-deprived, hazy from the pheromones. She unconsciously moved towards the source of the scent. The click of the doorknob being turned snapped her back to reality.

But the sight that followed rooted her to the spot.

Damp black hair clung to Li Chu’s fair face. A deep flush made her bright almond eyes misty. Her body swayed unconsciously, and even the fingertips gripping the doorframe emanated the sweet fragrance.

A ripe peach, ready to burst with juice at the slightest touch.

Vividly beautiful and fragrant, nothing less.

Li Chu’s breathing grew heavier, her mind clouded. A watery film covered her vision; she could only vaguely make out the figure in front of her, likely Ning Manqing who hadn’t left yet.

It was as if she saw her savior. She stumbled towards her.

“Ning Manqing…”

Help me make a call.

Before Li Chu could finish her sentence, her consciousness completely dissolved into chaos.

To Ning Manqing, however, it looked like Li Chu was desperately trying to get closer to her, before collapsing into her arms, filling them with the sweet scent.

Her slightly parted red lips softly murmured Ning Manqing’s name, her misty eyes like a pool of spring water holding shattered light.

The gland at the back of Ning Manqing’s neck burned hot. The primal desire etched into her genes screamed, craving to embrace and possess the Omega before her— her Omega.

Ning Manqing’s willpower was crumbling. She gripped Li Chu’s chin and asked, “Where are your suppressants?”

Li Chu didn’t answer, merely wrapping her arms around her neck.

Consciousness lost control.

Ning Manqing looked at the woman who had practically melted into water in her arms and lifted her horizontally.

Li Chu smelled a faint fragrance, like orchids, yet not quite.

Amidst the clear scent was a hint of astringency, like the Cloud Mist tea she had once drunk.

She helplessly grasped at that elusive scent. Then, a warm, slender hand covered the back of hers, steadying her trembling body with each breath.

The Cloud Mist tea scent inexorably entwined with the peach fragrance, blending in the room into a uniquely subtle, sweet aroma.

Like a fine spring rain drizzling over tea leaves and peach blossoms, clinging to everything.

Li Chu whimpered, like a helpless boat adrift in a storm. In the vast emptiness, the warmth behind her felt like salvation. She clung tightly to that warmth, like some strangling vine, yet she was so soft, like a ripe, sweet peach swaying gently in the wind on a branch.

Li Chu heard the other person’s heartbeat, felt her breath. She almost addictively inhaled the orchid-like Cloud Mist scent.

That fragrance gently yet forcefully occupied her mind, controlled her senses, demanding her confusion, her surrender, her willing submission.

Pain made Li Chu’s hands lose their strength. Her meticulously manicured nails left faint red marks on the silk-like skin of the back.

“Be good, don’t be afraid.”

The voice was slightly hoarse. As it fell upon her eardrums, Li Chu unconsciously relaxed her grip, her eyelashes trembling lightly as tears were kissed away.

The gland on the back of her neck, brimming with peach scent, instinctively tempted the bite that would savor its sweetness. Alpha teeth easily pierced the gland, placing a temporary mark on the prey that belonged solely to her.

The cool Cloud Mist scent seemed to flood into her body entirely. Li Chu trembled even more violently. Her mind went blank, unable to form thoughts, as if seeing the heavenly light pierce through the misty mountain peak, meeting her gentle demise in this moment.

…

When Li Chu woke up, it felt like she’d been struck by lightning five times over.

Ning Manqing lay sleeping beside her. Compared to yesterday, after differentiating into an Alpha, her beauty seemed even more striking, more aggressive. Li Chu didn’t dare look for long. Her mind was a chaotic mess. Her legs felt like jelly as she scrambled to put on her clothes as fast as possible and fled in panic.

While escaping, she didn’t forget to grab the hidden camera from the flowerpot. She put on the mask and hat from her bag and sat numbly in the taxi, staring blankly ahead.

My O! Where’s my super beautiful Omega female lead!

Why did she become an A!

Why!!!

This isn’t how the plot was written!!!