The brilliant noon sun complemented the snowy scenery outside, exceptionally bright.
The rectangle of light cast by the restroom window glass neatly framed the reagent tube in a golden glow.
Yu Mo saw a line of small, elegant English engraved on the glass reagent tube.
She couldn’t understand the scientific English words, but she recognized this reagent.
It was a type of Omega Suppressant Shen Shuyu commonly used.
The scent of Camellia permeating the air teased Yu Mo, faintly, as if present yet absent.
Shen Shuyu’s eyes were dazed, every breath she exhaled forming a scorching thin mist in this cold space.
She had actually entered her Heat period.
“What’s going on, how is it this severe?” Yu Mo bent over, efficiently picked up the Suppressant from the floor, and stepped towards Shen Shuyu.
“I forgot.” Shen Shuyu struggled to stand up from the ground, her voice slightly hoarse with exertion.
Shen Shuyu knew her Heat period was approaching.
But she had been too busy today, barely eaten any lunch, and consequently forgot the midday injection she was supposed to take.
Just moments ago, as Shen Shuyu walked into the restroom stall, the Heat she had been ignoring began to churn and riot within her body.
Shen Shuyu also sensed the abnormality in her body and was about to take out the Suppressant she carried with her,
when a piercing winter wind slipped in through the slightly ajar restroom window.
At that moment, Shen Shuyu’s body felt like a pot of boiling water.
Cold and heat alternated across her skin.
Shen Shuyu felt her heart racing faster and faster. Her hand gripping the stall door panel trembled uncontrollably.
Suddenly, pheromones burst forth from her body, beyond her control.
The impact weakened her legs so abruptly that she collapsed, disheveled, from the step inside the stall.
And the life-saving suppressant in her hand rolled far away to the doorway.
Shen Shuyu struggled to stand up.
But that fall had left her aching all over.
Her powerless legs could only press weakly against the icy tile floor.
Only Shen Shuyu’s heavy breathing remained in the empty restroom.
Shen Shuyu suddenly felt a sense of being forgotten by the world.
And at that moment,
Yu Mo, like the peerless hero classmates often spoke of,
appeared before her, draped in light.
“Come.”
Yu Mo crouched down beside Shen Shuyu and effortlessly pulled her up to lean against herself.
The scent of Camellia also enveloped Yu Mo.
Sea salt caramel flavored sugar cubes, blue and white, were placed into a transparent glass.
A strong tea fragrance mingled with astringent plum notes, poured together into the glass.
A long silver spoon stirred gently.
Sugar cubes clinked against the glass walls, ringing crisply.
Yu Mo’s heartbeat thudded abnormally faster.
She tightened the string in her mind, the hand holding the suppressant showing distinct blue veins.
Yu Mo reached out and rolled up Shen Shuyu’s sleeve.
Shen Shuyu was naturally thin. Even though winter clothes were thicker, her sleeve was still easily pushed up by Yu Mo.
Then, Yu Mo skillfully opened the needle of the suppressant.
This wasn’t her first time using Shen Shuyu’s type of suppressant. In her past life, as Shen Shuyu’s personal bodyguard, she often helped prepare her inhibitors.
Yu Mo’s neatly trimmed nails gently tapped the syringe a few times, expelling the air inside.
Her index and middle fingers held the barrel, thumb pressing lightly.
A crystalline drop of pure white liquid beaded at the needle tip.
Shen Shuyu leaned against Yu Mo’s shoulder, her misty eyes gazing covetously at Yu Mo’s focused profile.
Yu Mo’s cheek was fair, tender, and soft, like a piece of snow mochi, utterly delectable.
Shen Shuyu’s lips, licked glossy, shimmered with a decadent light.
Desire clamored and screamed in her brain.
Embrace her, kiss her, let her mark you.
Shen Shuyu’s reason pulled tight on its reins just in time, struggling to suppress the desire threatening to break free from her heart.
No, no…
You can’t do this, she will be angry…
Shen Shuyu struggled in the quagmire, her brows furrowed tightly, ravines everywhere.
Just then, Shen Shuyu felt a sharp sting in her arm, followed by a coolness gradually being injected into her body.
The burning anxiety in her heart was slowly consumed and dissipated.
The desire in her brain was thoroughly reined in by reason.
Shen Shuyu’s brows, which had been knotted in struggle, gradually smoothed out.
After the ravines receded, it was a plain of snow-white, creamy skin.
“Okay, it’s alright now.”
Feeling the retreat of the Camellia scent around her, Yu Mo comforted Shen Shuyu, and also comforted herself, who had been battling her own inner desire.
“Mm…”
Leaning in Yu Mo’s arms, Shen Shuyu nodded weakly.
Her fingers moved slightly, feeling the lost strength slowly returning to her body.
“How could you be so careless, forgetting something as important as your Heat?” Yu Mo asked, though her voice held no reprimand.
“Too busy.” Shen Shuyu’s voice sounded like it had recovered some strength.
“From now on, set an alarm clock for your Heat period, three times a day, always reminding you.” Yu Mo said, helping Shen Shuyu tidy her sleeve, and added, “Or tell Li Qingqing. Aren’t you two always together? Having one more person to help you remember reduces the risk of what happened today by one point.”
Shen Shuyu nodded obediently, a warm current flowing through her heart.
In Shen Shuyu’s memory, whether in this life or the last, Yu Mo rarely nagged her with such reminders.
That is, Yu Mo had once, long ago, precariously reminded her like this, only to receive a “so noisy” from Shen Shuyu.
After that, she never did it again.
Or rather, many times afterward, Yu Mo didn’t speak, she just acted.
Shen Shuyu herself didn’t know if many of the small details at the company were handled by her secretary or by Yu Mo.
In her past life, she never bothered to investigate such things, considering it a waste of time.
“Yu Mo.” Shen Shuyu reached out slightly and tugged Yu Mo’s cuff.
“What is it?” Yu Mo looked down calmly at Shen Shuyu.
Her gaze was mild, carrying a hint of question.
Shen Shuyu suddenly felt a strong urge to say sorry to Yu Mo.
But with her current identity, how could she?
Shen Shuyu’s lips trembled slightly, swallowing the “sorry” that would expose her.
Then, her finger lightly hooked the metal button of Yu Mo’s cuff. Her long eyelashes lowered, her tone mild, “You’re so naggy.”
Yu Mo opened her mouth to retort, but Shen Shuyu slightly raised her head, “Why don’t I tell you too when my Heat comes? You can help me remember too?”
“You have Li Qingqing helping you remember, why would you need me?” Yu Mo retorted, her words full of polite refusal.
How could an Alpha help an Omega remember their Heat? They weren’t a couple.
“Because I need you,” Shen Shuyu answered openly, without any attempt to hide it.
She had no other intention, just wanted to pick up what she had neglected before, little by little.
Perhaps because her Heat had just passed and she hadn’t fully recovered her strength,
Shen Shuyu’s voice sounded very soft.
Like a pale pink strawberry-flavored cotton candy.
Yu Mo felt her entire heart about to sink into it.
Moreover, Yu Mo also saw that the corners of Shen Shuyu’s eyes and brows were still stained with a layer of light red that hadn’t faded.
She was looking at her quietly, yet pitifully.
Her body, having just come out of Heat, curled up slightly against her.
Frail as a shivering little rabbit.
She really seemed like she needed her.
In all her years beside Shen Shuyu, Yu Mo had never heard Shen Shuyu say she needed her.
Nor had she ever indicated, even slightly in her actions, that she needed her.
“O… okay.” The two words hesitantly fell from Yu Mo’s throat.
A flash of joy leaped onto Shen Shuyu’s face.
But Yu Mo immediately added: “But I might not always remember. I’ll remind you if I think of it. Don’t hold too much hope for me.”
Having it was enough; how could she ask for more?
Shen Shuyu nodded.
A few strands of hair on top of her head playfully grazed Yu Mo’s chin, now and then.
Bringing a numbing sweetness to Yu Mo’s heart.
The quiet space was suddenly broken by the vibration of an incoming call.
Shen Shuyu pulled her phone from her left pocket, “Hello, Senior Sister.”
“Teacher Zhang’s class’s performance has some issues. Come over and see what to do, whether to cut it or modify it.” Zhao Mingyi spoke from the other end.
“Okay, I’ll be right there.” Shen Shuyu nodded and hung up the phone.
“I have to go.” Shen Shuyu forced herself up, holding onto the stall door panel.
Seeing her struggling so much, Yu Mo couldn’t help but advise, “You should still rest for a while.”
“No need.” Shen Shuyu shook her head, her voice carrying a hidden, subtle expectation. She said softly to Yu Mo, “Only if everything is arranged today can I find time to watch your performance tomorrow.”
Hearing Shen Shuyu say this, Yu Mo was momentarily stunned.
Shen Shuyu saw Yu Mo’s reaction and explained further, “I originally thought I could watch your complete performance once during the rehearsals, but even after rehearsing so many times, I always missed just a bit, never managing to see the whole thing.”
Shen Shuyu finished speaking with a wry smile.
Just like her and Yu Mo, always missing just a little.
So this was what they meant by: after clouds part, the moon shines bright.
Yu Mo suddenly felt that her earlier bout of self-mocking fantasy in the backstage rest area was a bit ridiculous.
She wasn’t the Shen Shuyu of the past.
Yet, she was Shen Shuyu.
“Here.” Yu Mo handed the bag to Shen Shuyu and stated, “Then it’s settled. You must come watch my performance tomorrow.”
Shen Shuyu looked back at Yu Mo.
The warm afternoon sun shone on Yu Mo’s clean face, brightly dissolving the barrier between them.
Shen Shuyu’s heart fluttered.
She never expected that her own frankness would elicit such a response from Yu Mo.
She took the bag Yu Mo offered and nodded affirmatively, “Alright.”
.
The New Year’s Gala at A University Affiliated Girls High School was scheduled for the afternoon of the day before the holiday.
Just past one in the afternoon, each class began organizing queues to orderly enter the Grand Auditorium, filling all the seats inside.
Following the scheduled time and procedure, the New Year’s Gala commenced with the hosts’ first introduction.
Songs, dances, cross-talk, skits.
Every class’s program, after rounds of rehearsal, presented its perfect effect on stage.
With a wave of applause, Yu Mo, Wei Lai, and Feng Ruoyu stood on the stage.
It was also at this moment that the completely engrossed Li Qingqing felt something poking her.
She lifted her head.
In the dim lights, a flower of secret surprise bloomed on her fair little face.
“You finally came! I thought you said you might not make it!”
Shen Shuyu pushed aside Li Qingqing’s long legs blocking the narrow aisle and sat in the seat Li Qingqing had saved for her, answering coolly, “I said I had a stomachache.”
“Pfft, even you can lie.” Li Qingqing teased, pressing a specially made support glow stick into Shen Shuyu’s hand.
“You’re quite thoughtful.” Shen Shuyu looked at the little fish-shaped glow stick in her hand, expressing great appreciation for Li Qingqing.
Li Qingqing proudly clicked her tongue at Shen Shuyu.
Immediately following, the electric guitar pierced through the speakers, sending its dynamic, edgy sound throughout the entire auditorium.
Under these top-notch, well-adjusted sound systems, Yu Mo’s voice was even more infectious than any rehearsal Shen Shuyu had ever heard.
Her magnetic voice weaved joyously through the music and drumbeats, reaching every listener’s ears.
One song, Our Last Day, completely ignited the audience.
As the electric guitar sound faded, waves of encore cries echoed throughout the auditorium.
Shen Shuyu saw several teachers waving glow sticks along too.
Yu Mo was deeply infected by this atmosphere. Holding the microphone, she asked in a somewhat bold tone, “Then what do you want to hear?”
People shouted out all kinds of song titles.
Songs she knew, songs she didn’t; new songs, old songs, a bizarre array.
Yu Mo brushed her hair back, a little troubled.
She didn’t know what to sing right then.
At that moment, Yu Mo heard a familiar loud shout from afar.
Li Qingqing stood up from her seat, waving the little fish-shaped glow stick in her hand, and shouted brazenly towards the stage at the top of her lungs: “Last Dance!”
Hearing this song title, Yu Mo’s eyes first showed surprise.
Then, she suddenly laughed.
Last Dance, that was a good choice.
Yu Mo looked towards Li Qingqing, who had chosen just what she wanted, but her gaze caught sight of Shen Shuyu sitting beside Li Qingqing.
Under the dim lights, she sat upright amidst the vast sea of the audience.
Her cold, fair skin was like an epiphyllum blooming in the dark night.
Shen Shuyu had indeed come to the audience as she had promised yesterday, to watch her performance.
An inexplicable sense of fulfillment instantly filled Yu Mo’s heart.
In the darkness, Yu Mo slowly brought the microphone to her lips and asked all the audience members in the stands: “Wanna hear Last Dance?”
