A pale yellow sports car drove away from Southern Garden at a speed utterly mismatched to its model.
Shen Han stood in place, narrowed her eyes, and lightly rubbed her fingers at her side, as if the smooth warmth of an earlobe still lingered there.
And that instant when Su Mi had seemed caught off guard and stiffened.
Butler Li smiled amiably beside her and asked, “Miss, did Miss Su like the new decorations in that room? This was just a preliminary makeover. If Miss Su likes this style, next time we can have the designer come and renovate it completely.”
Shen Han recalled Su Mi’s dazed expression upstairs, as if she had just woken up confused.
She let out a light hum and said, “She didn’t notice.”
Butler Li looked a bit disappointed and said, “You didn’t introduce it to her either.”
He followed Shen Han into the house, chattering on, “But Prime City University is so far from Southern Garden. It’s troublesome for Miss Su to come over every time, and it wastes her study time. Miss, I checked this afternoon—Shen Corporation has two properties near Prime City University. One is a bit farther, a top-floor duplex, and the other is closer, a large flat. I don’t know which one Miss Su would prefer.”
Shen Han slipped on her slippers and glanced over.
Butler Li smiled warmly. “You can ask her when you have time? Living in the dorms isn’t as good as living at home. Tell Miss Su that Mama Zhang’s old house is also near Prime City University. She can move in, and I’ll adjust Mama Zhang’s shift so she can go home too. That way, she can cook for Miss Su every day.”
“…”
Shen Han thought of Su Mi’s reaction and let out a silent chuckle. She said, “That would scare her to death.”
Butler Li’s smile deepened. “Miss Su just seems a bit timid, but she actually has a lot of ideas and is very smart. Even as a beta, her inner resolve is about the same as her father’s.”
Shen Han didn’t reply.
A box that Li Zhao had brought still sat by the coffee table.
She bent down, unfastened the latches, and revealed dozens of small bottles of pale green concentrated potions inside.
Butler Li glanced at it and said, “Why did Doctor Li switch to a different one?”
Shen Han said, “She said it’s a new formula. The results from last time’s check were a bit better.”
Butler Li prattled on, “Doctor Li rushed in this time, shoved the box at me, and went upstairs to find you. Then she came down and had to send Miss Xu off right away. Not sure what she was in such a hurry about.”
He picked up the box. “I’ll store it on the second floor?”
Shen Han nodded.
Once Butler Li left, Shen Han stood in the living room for a moment.
She slipped her hand into her pocket, paused, and then pulled out a slender chain.
It was a necklace.
The design was very ordinary—a silver chain with a star dangling at the very bottom, swaying gently.
The style was eighty or ninety percent similar to the star on Su Mi’s earring.
The star necklace swayed slightly before her eyes.
Shen Han recalled that afternoon when Li Zhao had burst into the dance studio, pulled her out, and offered the necklace like a treasure.
Mumbling mysteriously at a rapid clip about how “it took forever to get from an ex-girlfriend,” “a new product from the research institute, not for public sale,” “has amazing effects on pheromones and mental power”…
Shen Han had looked at her in bewilderment, paused, and said, “If you’re bored, go inside and teach Xu Nanqiao to dance.”
Li Zhao: “…You were actually teaching her to dance?”
Shen Han pinched her brow and said, “Yes.”
Li Zhao made a pfft sound and said, “Let me guess—is it Su Mi’s idea? Where is she? She didn’t come?”
Shen Han said, “Sleeping upstairs.”
Li Zhao raised a brow. “You let her sleep on the third floor? Isn’t that… Or did you expand Southern Garden? Add another floor above the third? How did I not notice?”
Seeing Shen Han ignore her, Li Zhao gradually calmed down and tsked.
“Anyway, you take it. It should have some soothing effect on your mental power too. Wear it around your neck more, and dangle it in front of your little sister… heh heh.”
Li Zhao seemed to think of something else and grinned mischievously.
Shen Han was speechless. “Li Zhao, get out if you can’t act normal.”
Li Zhao waved her off. “No, I just remembered something funny. I’ll go teach. Do as you like.”
The memory ended there, and Shen Han had gone upstairs afterward.
Shen Han moved her fingers slightly, and the star spun gently before her eyes.
It sparkled, somehow reminiscent of a dog’s bright, shiny eyes.
Mental power?
Though she didn’t know why, Su Mi before her differentiation wasn’t clear in her memories.
But it seemed Su Mi had only started wearing that barrier earring after her differentiation—and hadn’t changed it in these past few months. Given Su Mi’s girly love for pretty things, she should have switched out her earrings regularly.
Shen Han lowered her eyes and clenched the star in her palm.
The edges dug in a bit, bringing a comfortable sting to her palm.
Li Zhao was always erratic and had always acted strangely toward Su Mi, so Shen Han didn’t fully believe her.
Generally speaking, betas had no pheromones, and mental power was useless to them. Their levels weren’t high, and only one in ten thousand might reach A-grade. The chance of mental power issues was very low too.
After thinking for a bit, Shen Han sent a message to Secretary Zhuang to check which institution Su Mi had gone through her differentiation period at and what her mental power rating was.
–
After orientation day, formal classes started the second week, with the first week mostly taken up by various welcome events and scrambling for first-semester courses.
Su Mi majored in light brain technology. Though it was far from Xu Nanqiao’s medical school, both required some biotech knowledge, and a few courses overlapped. Plus, Prime City University had mandatory general education classes.
The two picked and chose, managing to share two classes a week.
The Sunday night of the first week of the semester was the welcome masquerade ball, held in the school auditorium.
Su Ciyu had called over her usual makeup artist to do Su Mi’s makeup and styling.
The makeup artist sister was skilled; Su Mi examined herself in the mirror and felt it was just right—a bit cute, styled toward the adorable side.
This time, it was a fluffy gown with a skirt like gauze or clouds, cinched at the waist with a beautifully tied bow, trailing long bow streamers down the back.
She had a high ponytail, with slightly curled golden hair cascading like a waterfall behind her head.
Su Mi spun in front of the mirror and suddenly recalled the last Shen Family Banquet, when Shen Han had tugged at her skirt and said it was too short.
This skirt’s length hit right at the knees—should be beyond reproach, right?
The thought flashed by. Su Mi shook her head and thought again that Shen Han’s focus should be on Xu Nanqiao.
She needed to make sure Xu Nanqiao went to the banquet looking stunning.
Xu Nanqiao didn’t take the ball seriously. That Sunday afternoon, she still went to her final tutoring session downtown. Su Mi kept asking when she’d be back and finally got a “almost there” reply.
Shen Han actually arrived before her.
Su Mi had the makeup artist wait in the dorm for Xu Nanqiao, specially instructing her to make Xu Nanqiao look absolutely gorgeous.
Then she hurried downstairs and met Shen Han at the dorm entrance.
Shen Han was dressed low-key: a fitted black ankle-length gown with a slit on the left side, accented by vine-like patterns at the seam, holding a black feather-shaped mask in her hand.
She usually wore some jewelry, but today she seemed to have only a necklace.
Before getting close, Su Mi’s gaze couldn’t help lingering on that slit.
She thought the patterns were pointless—those winding black lace-like vines clinging to her pale thigh, half-hidden, half-revealed, made one strangely want to touch.
She hadn’t expected that with Shen Han’s aura, anyone else would dare be so bold as to stare at the slit not just once or twice, but keep walking while fixated on it.
Only when she drew near did Su Mi realize her improper distraction and shook her head.
She looked up, not yet greeting her, and froze.
From her height, she had a perfect view of Shen Han’s collarbone, where a familiar star necklace hung.
Under the sunlight, it flashed her a shocking glare.
Of course, Shen Han’s icicle-like beautiful collarbone looked good adorned with more or less decoration.
But this wasn’t about looking good…
Su Mi swallowed and her pupils shook.
How could it be the same style as her earring?
Her heart panicked a little. Su Mi pinched her palm hard and said softly, “Sister.”
She pursed her lips and looked at Shen Han with a drumming heart.
Shen Han remained quite calm.
Her pale lashes fluttered calmly under Su Mi’s tense gaze.
Shen Han said, “What’s the rush? The ball hasn’t started yet.”
Su Mi read her expression.
She seemed… the antagonist looked the same as usual, no difference.
She carefully stayed by Shen Han’s side as they walked toward the auditorium.
It wasn’t far from the dorm, and the road was filled with men and women in pretty dresses and refined makeup.
She held back for just a moment—really just a moment. Su Mi wasn’t the type to hold back her worries.
She psyched herself up and pretended casually, “Sister, your necklace… how come it looks the same as my earring?”
Shen Han stopped at her words.
She turned to face Su Mi, lifted the corner of her lips ambiguously, and said, “You saw it?”
Su Mi: “…Yeah.”
She felt like a goose stretching its neck for the slaughter with that yeah.
Su Mi tilted her face up, trying to look obedient and aggrieved, gazing at Shen Han pitifully.
Shen Han raised her hand, and her cool fingertip gently pressed the star earring on Su Mi’s earlobe.
As if casually changing the subject, she asked instead, “Have you ever done a mental power test?”
Secretary Zhuang had checked: Su Mi had done her exam at the differentiation center under Wen Zisu’s jurisdiction, which was also a Shen Corporation internal facility. He’d requested the data directly from inside but hadn’t gotten it—said there was no such record.
That might mean there was an issue.
The words landed in Su Mi’s ears, and she let out a breath of relief.
Her eyes brightened a little.
Mental power? Did that mean Shen Han had interpreted it in another direction?
Months had passed; by now, that Aunt Fu’s Daughter had probably made plenty more of similar items. Maybe the effect of Shen Han’s was different?
Like, hers was for disguise, and the one Shen Han got was for suppressing mental power?
Su Mi wasn’t sure and vaguely probed, “I think I did, but Father didn’t show me the results.”
It happened to align perfectly with Shen Han’s suspicions.
Shen Han sighed and pinched her earlobe between two fingers.
Su Mi’s earlobe was already sensitive; it trembled involuntarily, her voice quivering as she looked up and said softly, “What’s wrong… with this star…”
It was already puppy-dog eyes, always looking up at her innocently from below.
Her voice was soft and coquettish, the ending trembling.
The concerns in Shen Han’s heart naturally dissipated a bit.
She couldn’t help thinking that with Su Mi’s carefree, dumb look, if there were issues with her mental power test results, her uncle and aunt wouldn’t have told her given their personalities.
Forget it.
If her uncle and aunt wanted to hide it, she shouldn’t worry her prematurely.
Before her, Su Mi was still anxious.
Why no verdict on her crime yet?
Su Mi reached out and poked Shen Han’s other arm.
She asked softly, “Is there something wrong with me?”
Did she believe it? Why no response?
If not… confession was fine too.
The disguised omega was the original host’s setting. If cornered by Shen Han, confessing under pressure wouldn’t collapse the persona.
Shen Han paused, subtly lowered her hand, and her lips pressed into a straight line.
Her expression softened as she said, “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about investing in new testing equipment lately, so I asked casually… The necklace is probably just a coincidence in style.”
Su Mi: …Huh?
Same style?
She had braced for a full shura field showdown, but Shen Han brushed it off so easily?
Su Mi wasn’t sure if Shen Han had misunderstood something, but then Shen Han reached out, lowered her head, and unfastened the necklace from her own neck.
Su Mi’s neck was bare as Shen Han looped a beautiful star necklace around it, almost identical to her earring star—very matching.
As Shen Han put it on, Su Mi was nearly enveloped by her. Shen Han’s slender arms circled Su Mi’s neck; she tilted her head slightly, her expression serious as she fastened it.
Then she stepped back to admire it and said, “Looks pretty good.”
Su Mi stared blankly and asked, “Why… give this to me?”
Shen Han said lazily, “Wanted to give it, so I did.”
Shen Han patted the top of Su Mi’s head and said calmly, “Tomorrow, I’ll have my assistant send some supplements over. Even if you’re living at school, you still need to eat properly. Your major is pretty demanding, so take good care of your body. Remember to balance work and rest, okay?”
Problems with mental power fluctuations were excruciatingly painful when they flared up. Shen Han knew full well how agonizing they could be, so she didn’t want to see Su Mi suffer the same way.
It probably wasn’t a big deal. Tomorrow, she needed to pay a visit to Uncle and Aunt to figure out exactly what was going on.
Su Mi: “Okay…”
She lowered her head and glanced at the necklace around her neck again.
Su Mi breathed a sigh of relief, figuring Shen Han hadn’t grown suspicious. But the icy cool temperature of the necklace at her collar kept reminding her insistently: I was just taken off Shen Han’s collarbone!
It felt cool and chilly, just like Shen Han’s body temperature.
Su Mi didn’t wear perfume. Thanks to Shen Han putting the necklace on her earlier, she felt like her entire body was enveloped in Shen Han’s cool fragrance.
In any case… it just felt weird.
She had probably been startled by Shen Han’s sudden question earlier and was still shaken.
Su Mi shook her head and followed Shen Han into the hall.
There were already quite a few people inside, gathered in small clusters chatting. The dress code for this masquerade ball wasn’t strict—some wore elaborate evening gowns, while plenty of others showed up in simple little black dresses or suits just to have fun.
Classical music that Su Mi couldn’t name played in the venue, and the atmosphere was perfect. Shen Han had already donned the black feather mask that covered the upper part of her face. It was stunning, but her exposed ice-blue eyes clearly radiated an aura that kept strangers at bay.
Su Mi knew her place: she was there to give Xu Nanqiao some courage, grab some good eats, and check out the hotties—a little sidekick through and through.
Xu Nanqiao was still doing her makeup back at the dorm, so Su Mi wasn’t in any rush. She headed to the refreshment table, grabbed a plate of pastries, and stood beside Shen Han, nibbling away like a content little hamster enjoying some downtime.
As she ate, someone suddenly stopped in front of her.
It was a guy who looked sunny and handsome… probably a Beta.
He smiled at her warmly and asked politely, “Hello, are you one of this year’s freshmen?”
