After the suppressant injection, Li Chu collapsed limply onto the bed.
Her pheromone blocking patch, which had malfunctioned earlier, was removed and weakly handed to Qian Duoduo.
“Sis, are you okay?” Qian Duoduo asked, discarding the patch and the empty syringe into the trash.
Li Chu, too weak to speak, simply nodded.
Her body stopped burning. The suppressant, like a cold current, quelled all the restlessness but also left her shivering.
This shouldn’t… This shouldn’t be happening. This isn’t the normal reaction.
Li Chu sensed something was off. She had experienced four heats in total, the first upon arriving in this world and the most recent just now. The first two times, the suppressant hadn’t caused this chilling effect, but today it did. The injection should have brought a languid calmness, like being enveloped by Ning Manqing’s pheromones on set, but it wasn’t nearly as comfortable, much milder, followed by drowsiness.
“So strange, why two days early?” Qian Duoduo muttered, puzzled. She remembered Li Chu’s heat cycle clearly, having assisted with the previous two injections. There was no way she’d mistaken the date.
Li Chu remained silent, feigning ignorance, though she had an inkling. Just as omega pheromones could drive alphas into a frenzy, alpha pheromones could trigger an early heat in omegas. Li Chu just hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. Not even a minute of exposure, and Ning Manqing’s pheromones weren’t even directed at me. How is this possible?
Clutching the blanket tightly, feeling the chill spreading through her, Li Chu burrowed deeper.
“Turn on the heat,” Li Chu mumbled, her pale face half-hidden in the covers, eyes closed.
“Okay.” Qian Duoduo touched Li Chu’s forehead, finding it icy cold. She switched the AC to heating, setting a timer to prevent Li Chu from overheating in her sleep.
Qian Duoduo sat for a while, observing Li Chu curled up, looking different than before. “Sister Li, should we go to the hospital?”
Li Chu’s muffled voice came from under the blanket. “No need. Go on out. I’ll be fine after some sleep.”
“Alright, Sister. Your phone’s right here. Speed dial has my number. Call me immediately if you feel unwell.” Qian Duoduo lived in the same building, sharing a wall with Li Chu’s apartment.
Li Chu nodded. After hearing the door close, she wrapped herself even tighter. She was so cold she could almost hear her teeth chattering. But she knew she didn’t need a hospital. Perhaps, more than a hospital, she needed something else.
—Ning Manqing’s pheromones.
It was an unbearable mental craving, transcending physical sensation yet dominating it. Li Chu bit the corner of the blanket, finally burrowing completely under, forcing herself to sleep. Sleep will fix this! I absolutely will not reach out and defile Teacher Ning again!
Outside, Qian Duoduo was startled by several pairs of eyes upon exiting.
“All taken care of?” Ji Yun asked, glancing at the closed door with concern.
Qian Duoduo nodded. “Yes, Sister Li has gone to bed.”
Zhao Zhichun sighed in relief. “That’s good. Scared me there. I wondered why she was so dizzy. Good thing it happened close to home.”
Ji Yun nodded. “It’s alright now.”
“Duoduo, remember to carry suppressants with you at all times,” Ning Manqing added, sitting in a nearby chair, her stage makeup still on, her features appearing sharp and cold under the light. Her gaze made Qian Duoduo feel a sudden surge of pressure.
“Teacher Ning, I’ll remember that,” Qian Duoduo replied, knowing Ning Manqing and Li Chu were close. If Li Chu’s heat had hit on the road, or in a crowded place, having the suppressants back at the apartment would have been inconvenient and even dangerous.
“Alright, let’s disperse. We have work tomorrow. Go to sleep,” Ji Yun said, dismissing the matter.
Before being pulled away, Ning Manqing couldn’t help but glance back at the closed door, her lips pursed, before finally leaving.
With the door closed, Li Chu’s room returned to silence. Inside, the warm air from the AC did little to dispel her hazy state. The chill lingered, refusing to dissipate.
She didn’t know if she was asleep or awake, conscious or not. She only felt cold, despite the warmth of the air making her skin almost hot. The streetlights outside cast a dim glow through the window.
A soft knock woke Ning Manqing. She checked the clock on the wall – 3:00 AM. Throwing off the thin blanket, she opened the door to find a ghost-like figure standing there.
Disheveled black hair framed a small, pale face, like a delicate flower swaying in the night breeze. Li Chu wore the same rumpled blue and white dress from earlier, clinging to her slender waist. Her eyes were unfocused as she looked at Ning Manqing, a subtle plea in her furrowed brows.
Ning Manqing pulled her inside, closing the door, her body heat warming Li Chu’s trembling form.
“Teacher Ning… I’m sorry… But I feel so awful… I can’t control it… I…” Li Chu stammered, her omega body betraying her. She had repeatedly rejected Ning Manqing’s offer to take responsibility, yet here she was, entangled once more.
“It’s okay. It’s nothing. It’s partly my fault,” Ning Manqing said softly, lifting Li Chu into her arms. The faint scent of peaches, usually vibrant, now seemed weak and clinging, prompting her to soften her voice further. She had intended to check on Li Chu, but with so many people around, she worried about the potential repercussions for Li Chu if they were seen together. Now, seeing Li Chu distressed enough to seek her out, she regretted her hesitation.
“It won’t hurt for long.” Ning Manqing lay on the bed, cradling Li Chu against her chest, stroking her dark hair, and releasing a gentle wave of pheromones.
Like water flowing into a parched spring, the chill within Li Chu began to melt away. The sensation was incredibly soothing, like basking by a fireplace in winter, wanting nothing more than to lie there, not moving a single finger.
Ning Manqing soothed Li Chu like a frightened cat, gently massaging her scalp, listening to her near-delirious murmurs.
“Clothes…” The dress, unlike pajamas, was uncomfortable, the embellishments digging into her skin.
Ning Manqing’s fingers hooked the zipper, pulling it down silently in the quiet night.
“You’ve lost so much weight. We need to put some meat back on you after filming,” Ning Manqing said, her brow slightly furrowed as her fingers traced Li Chu’s spine. Li Chu felt weightless in her arms, her limbs so slender they seemed fragile.
The faint light illuminated Li Chu’s pale, thin back, her protruding shoulder blades like the wings of a butterfly about to take flight.
“Want… candied chestnuts…” Li Chu mumbled against Ning Manqing’s chest, listening to her heartbeat.
Ning Manqing’s eyes narrowed slightly, thinking of Zhao Zhichun. She didn’t mention his name, though. “Okay. What else do you want?” What is it with these alphas? First honey-glazed roast chicken, now candied chestnuts. Can’t they have normal pheromone scents?
“Crayfish…” Li Chu still craved the spicy, savory flavor, her mouth watering at the thought. Crayfish season would likely be over by the time filming wrapped, but Ning Manqing agreed anyway, asking if there was anything else.
“Hairy crabs… crab roe… squid… lamb skewers… grilled fish… beef teppanyaki… roast pigeon…” Li Chu rattled off a list of dishes, making herself hungry in the process. The only scent in the air was tea, mingled with the faint aroma of peaches, making Li Chu crave milk tea as well.
With a whine, Li Chu nuzzled closer. “Teacher Ning, hungry…”
This kitten-like behavior made Ning Manqing chuckle. “I don’t have any food in my room. How about you bite me instead? To satisfy your cravings.”
Li Chu tilted her head up slightly, her nose brushing against Ning Manqing’s collarbone and neck. A clear-headed 23-year-old wouldn’t make such a flirtatious gesture, but Li Chu, her mind clouded by pheromones, had the mental capacity of a toddler.
She nibbled gently, then licked the spot, like a housecat alternating between playful aggression and affection.
Cherry lips exhaled a sweet fragrance. Ning Manqing’s body stiffened involuntarily, her pheromones thickening.
“No taste…” Li Chu murmured, releasing her hold, still lost in thoughts of food.
Ning Manqing was tempted to coax her into biting harder, but before she could speak, Li Chu gave up.
A faint smile played on Ning Manqing’s lips as her fingers brushed against Li Chu’s smooth skin, like plucking the strings of a guqin.
Soothed by the alpha’s pheromones, Li Chu finally drifted off to sleep. The clock ticked past 4:00 AM.
Ning Manqing sighed softly, wrapping the thin blanket around the slender omega in her arms. The hallway was empty. Carrying Li Chu, bundled in the blanket, Ning Manqing crossed the threshold and returned her to her own room.
In this industry, there were many things to be mindful of. While Ning Manqing wouldn’t mind dating rumors with Li Chu, Li Chu herself would likely want to avoid them. The first time she’d offered to take responsibility, Ning Manqing hadn’t felt much romantic inclination towards Li Chu. It was purely out of an alpha’s sense of duty. The second time, however, there was a flicker of attraction, even imagining what life would be like if they were together. She liked Li Chu’s personality, admired her talent and perseverance. Beyond the pheromones, she enjoyed Li Chu’s company.
Ning Manqing realized her earlier approach had been wrong. She needed to slowly dismantle Li Chu’s preconceived notions. Slow and steady wins the race. Ning Manqing had always been a patient person.
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