Chapter 36 Part 1

Among the top ten contestants was an Omega drama queen and small internet celebrity who had entered the competition with investment backing. Relying on the 300,000 sponsorship from her backers and her own fanbase of over 500,000, she believed a top-three spot was hers for the taking.

But after two rounds, her popularity and judges’ scores fell far short of expectations. She had been left in the dust by Chi Yumo.

Her long-cultivated “sword-A coquettish” persona paled in comparison to Chi Yumo’s fresh and clean image, drawing a barrage of criticism instead.

At this rate, forget top three—even holding onto a top-five position looked difficult.

Sure enough, she was eliminated in the second round, landing an embarrassing sixth place and missing out on the international finals qualification.

Still, contestants from sixth to tenth had to wear the MENAS brand-sponsored outfits for the finale runway show and group photo.

Fuming, she pretended to trip while drinking water just before the third round, splashing a large wet stain onto the precious sapphire blue long skirt Chi Yumo held in her hands, ready to change into.

“Oh dear, sorry, sorry! Mo Yu, I’m so sorry, it wasn’t on purpose. You’re about to go on stage—what are we going to do?” She put on a pretentious act. “How about we swap outfits? You can borrow mine for now?”

She was only three centimeters shorter than Mo Yu, and that skirt was her most coveted style—stolen right out from under her by Mo Yu.

If not for her hope of swapping and her fear of Shen Muxi behind Mo Yu, she wouldn’t have just wet it; she’d have cut it to shreds with scissors.

By the third round, assistants and makeup artists were allowed in the lounges with contestants.

Chen Qiuxue panicked at first, but in seconds, she steadied herself, scowled, and flung a cup of water straight at the girl who had soaked Chi Yumo’s skirt.

“I’m sorry too. My hand slipped.”

On her first day at the company to meet Chi Yumo, Shen Muxi and the manager had instructed her: no shrinking back, hold her head high no matter who she faced—don’t let anyone look down on Mo Yu or herself.

Just days ago, she had gone through the villa scare and the flood of online abuse alongside Chi Yumo. Now, she was like a ferocious mother tiger protecting her cub.

The girl still wore her second-round pink tennis skirt set; Chen Qiuxue’s splash hit her chest, turning light pink into rose.

Humiliated, the girl bared her claws to strike. “Who the hell do you think you are, splashing me?”

Chi Yumo blocked her raised right hand, gripping her wrist so tightly the girl yelped, “It hurts, it hurts! Let go, let go! Mo Yu, I said let go—can’t you hear? You’re mute, not deaf!”

Others were in the room, but no one stepped in to help or stop it.

Chi Yumo’s grip was strong, showing no mercy. She could tolerate some grievances against herself, but she absolutely wouldn’t allow those close to her to be wronged because of her.

She had few friends or family in this world; only a handful treated her well, and Chen Qiuxue was one.

Following this aloof mute artist everywhere, facing walls and enduring humiliations was already frustrating enough—how could she let some mischief-maker slap Chen Qiuxue in front of her?

The instigating Omega wailed and grimaced but refused to admit fault. “Don’t think you’re the only one with backing, Mo Yu. Hurt me, and you’ll regret it! What are you all afraid of? Whip out your phones and record—Mo Yu bullying the weak with her power, picking on a fragile Omega. Perfect news fodder; post it now, and I bet the committee disqualifies her! You idiots, why can’t you… ah!”

Chi Yumo frowned in disgust and dragged her to a chair, her gaze fierce. She couldn’t speak anyway, and even if she could, she wouldn’t waste words on such a shameless troublemaker.

Sugar and salt look remarkably similar from the outside; without tasting, it’s hard to tell them apart. People are the same—you never know one’s kindness or ugliness until you interact.

“Hua Jie, trouble backstage.”

Chen Qiuxue made a call, and within a minute, two female bodyguards entered, pinning the troublemaker to the chair.

The manager arrived too.

She inspected the wet spot on Chi Yumo’s skirt and said, “Wear it as is. Go change first.”

When Chi Yumo emerged, the manager had Chen Qiuxue spread the skirt hem. Using the wet patch as a guide, she drew a wavy horizontal line just below it with more water.

Then she sprinkled matching glitter powder on the wet areas.

Chen Qiuxue got it. “Now the darker spots look like intentional shimmer designs. Even if the water dries on stage and the glitter falls off, it won’t affect the original color—no awkward patches.”

Thanks, Hua Jie.

Chi Yumo thanked her and headed to the stage.

Chen Qiuxue looked at manager Nianhua with admiration. “Hua Jie is amazing—thinking on her feet like that.”

“You’re not bad yourself; you’ve improved a lot.” Nianhua patted Chen Qiuxue’s shoulder, praising her backbone. “Keep it up. Don’t lose face for Teacher Shen, Mo Yu, or yourself, wherever you go.”

“Mm!”

As the final round ended, the annual “New Fashion Model Competition” reached its climax. The outcome was no surprise—Chi Yumo took the top spot with overwhelming votes.

“The results are in my hands.” The host held the scorecard from the staff. “Now, I’ll announce the champion of this New Fashion Model Competition—she is—contestant number 26! Let’s shout her name together: Mo Yu! Congratulations to Mo Yu—crowned in glory, well-deserved!”

“Also, congratulations to our number 19 contestant—XXX, the runner-up. Please welcome the dean of the Art Academy, Ms. XX, to award the champion Mo Yu, and MENAS marketing director Xiao Wei to award our runner-up XXX!”

Confetti flew on stage as etiquette ladies brought sashes and trophies. Cheers from the audience swelled wave after wave.

During the awards, Shen Muxi quietly left her seat.

Cheng Xiangxiang wore black-framed glasses and sat in the third row of the audience, clapping vigorously for Chi Yumo. Catching sight of Shen Muxi leaving the guests’ section, she glanced at the stage and followed.

She had arrived in the same car as Shen Muxi, and she’d leave in the same one.

That was the condition Nianhua had set for bringing the too-pretty, too-eye-catching, defenseless S-Grade Omega to watch safely.

The black glasses were handed to her after getting in the car—to obscure some of her striking beauty.

It embarrassed her. After all, Shen Muxi sat right in front of her, and in her heart, Shen Muxi was prettier.

“T-Teacher Shen.”

In the guests’ passageway, Cheng Xiangxiang hurried after Shen Muxi in small steps.

Shen Muxi stopped. “Speak.”

“I want to…”

“Not today. Mo Yu has a victory banquet tonight, a press conference tomorrow morning, lunch meeting at noon—come find her tomorrow afternoon.”

Cheng Xiangxiang had come yesterday, but Chi Yumo was swamped all day; they’d only chatted via WeChat. Chi Yumo had shared her schedule and set tomorrow afternoon.

“No, Teacher Shen, it’s not about Mo Yu.” Cheng Xiangxiang waved her hands. “I want to check my nape in the bathroom.”

“What’s wrong with your nape?” Shen Muxi showed concern.

“The inhibitor patch… it’s making me uncomfortable.” Cheng Xiangxiang twisted her neck and touched the back.

“Let me see.”

The patch Cheng Xiangxiang wore was the new model Nianhua had given her on the way—Shen Muxi’s go-to for the past year. It suppressed and blocked pheromones, not yet mass-produced, expensive and scarce, available only to a few elites. Better than market ones.

The distance shrank to zero, but Cheng Xiangxiang instinctively stepped back half a step—one foot—before Shen Muxi gripped her shoulder.

“Am I some people-eating monster?”

“Huh?” Cheng Xiangxiang looked up, shaking her head frantically. “No, no.”

“Then what? You dodge or retreat every time you see me?” As an Alpha, Shen Muxi was already six or seven centimeters taller than the Omega Cheng Xiangxiang, plus ten-centimeter heels—nearly a head above her in flats.

The sweet fragrance hit; under Shen Muxi’s stare, Cheng Xiangxiang blushed furiously, ducked her head, voice a mosquito hum: “It’s… your aura is too strong, and you’re arrogantly beautiful. I don’t dare look, afraid of offending Teacher Shen.”

Powerful aura? Arrogantly beautiful?

She often heard the first, but the second was new.

Arrogant beauty as praise?

Shen Muxi pressed a bit harder, forcing Cheng Xiangxiang to turn. “Turn around. I’ll check the issue.”

“Oh.”

Petite and helpless, the tiny Cheng Xiangxiang couldn’t resist, turning with the force and lifting her long hair aside.

She squeezed her eyes shut, praying her ears weren’t red.

But her prayers failed—Shen Muxi’s first glance locked onto her flushed ear tips.

Pink-tinged white… like a soft, cute little bunny. Shen Muxi wanted to pinch them.

“Teacher Shen? Did you see?” No response, so Cheng Xiangxiang asked.

Snapped back, Shen Muxi shifted her gaze to the gland under the patch. The edges were red all around—was it an allergy?

“Don’t move. Your skin might be too sensitive; allergic to this patch. I’ll peel it off first.”

“Ah? Sorry to trouble you, Teacher Shen.”

Peeling it revealed strands of sweet peach pheromones from the S+ Grade Omega, all drifting into Shen Muxi’s nose.

Then her Alpha mind looped six words: Sweet, juicy peach.

The stifled gland cooled, heat easing, but itch lingering.

“Teacher Shen?”

Cheng Xiangxiang turned back, took the patch from Shen Muxi’s hand, face crimson. “Give it to me; I’ll throw it away.”

Though Shen Muxi was older, she was an Alpha. An Omega letting an Alpha inspect her gland was like baring one of her most private body parts.

Though only their second meeting, Cheng Xiangxiang’s view of Shen Muxi had shifted greatly these days.

She trusted Chi Yumo’s judgment, the Deaf-Mute School staff and students’, and her own—Shen Muxi was a kind-hearted good person.

Those seconds of Shen Muxi signing with Chi Yumo made her glow brighter than any spotlight.

“Mm, hurry. Crowd’s dispersing.” Turning, Shen Muxi reverted to her aloof arrogance.

She chalked up her worry for Cheng Xiangxiang to an Alpha’s innate protectiveness toward fragile Omegas, and her “desire” for the pheromones to deep-rooted instincts.

But in the entertainment industry full of handsome men and beautiful Omegas, she’d seen countless stunners and scents—why fixate on Jinxi Drama School flower Cheng Xiangxiang, crave her peach pheromones?

Shen Muxi, she’s just a fresh grad, nearly ten years younger. What are you thinking?

Craving peaches? Have Nianhua buy some later.

But why hadn’t she noticed how alluring peach scent was before?

Oh, she’d never eaten one.

No, she’d make Nianhua buy some today.

After curbing her desire for Cheng Xiangxiang, Shen Muxi walked even faster. Meanwhile, Cheng Xiangxiang behind her, outpaced by those long legs, was left further and further behind.

…

At the other end of the passageway, in the opposite direction of their footsteps, applause thundered repeatedly, announcing the perfect conclusion of the New Fashion Model Competition that had lasted nearly half a month.

After the photos and curtain call, the audience dispersed. The contestants returned backstage to change clothes and head to the celebration banquet.

Shi Youwan headed backstage from the guests’ passageway, holding the flowers that Qiao Ke had fetched from the car—ones she had personally selected. She wanted to give them to Chi Yumo herself.

On a day like today, she could openly give flowers to little Mo.

The other contestants had left the stage early after photos to schmooze with the sponsors. Most hadn’t even changed clothes before hitching rides with certain sponsors to the banquet. Only Chi Yumo stayed until the very end, planning to leave just in time.

Chen Qiuxue spotted Shi Youwan at the door first, holding a bouquet. She saw Qiao Ke behind her making a few hand gestures, immediately understood, and stepped out, leaving the lounge to Shi Youwan.

Shi Youwan had helped Chi Yumo multiple times, which was a favor to Chi Yumo and indirectly to her as well.

With only the two of them left in the room, how could Chi Yumo not hear Chen Qiuxue walking out as she sat at the vanity reapplying light makeup?

She had recognized Shi Youwan’s footsteps the moment she stepped through the door. But it wasn’t until Shi Youwan appeared in the mirror that she smiled, stood politely.

“Little Mo, congratulations.”

Chi Yumo nodded slightly and took the flowers, but she didn’t glance at them. She casually set them on the vanity.

Seeing Chi Yumo’s smile made Shi Youwan’s heart flutter. But in the next instant, that fluttering heart plummeted along with the neglected bouquet.

Everything related to her was no longer cherished by little Mo.

“I’m skipping the celebration banquet tonight. You… drink less alcohol. If any pushy investors come at you, push them off on Shen Muxi.” As a representative of one of the sponsors, she naturally had an invitation, but since little Mo didn’t want to see her and her body wasn’t fully recovered, she hadn’t planned to go.

As the champion, Chi Yumo was the undisputed star of the night and would inevitably face a lot of toasts.

By now, she had given up on the idea of taking Chi Yumo away from Shen Muxi’s company. Little Mo had made modeling her new career, her new dream—following Shen Muxi was no worse than following her.