Chapter 2

In the night breeze of early summer under the locust trees, Shi Youwan could clearly feel the coconut scent on her body dissipating bit by bit.

The gland at the back of her neck was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, with restless pheromones churning like molten lava, burning the freshly pierced skin with unbearable pain.

This sensation was all too familiar to every Omega. It was the Heat Period that every Omega experienced once a month.

If her sister Shi Youran hadn’t suddenly appeared and interrupted her and Chi Yumo, she wouldn’t have had to endure this agony right now.

Tormented by her Heat Period, Shi Youwan had no mind to entertain her sister’s teasing and probing.

But Shi Youran chattered on relentlessly: “Mom already said it—there’s no need for you to marry anyone specifically. As long as it’s an S-Grade Alpha with a clean background, man or woman, you can like whoever you want.”

Shi Youwan, feeling utterly unwell, had a headache from the noise. She pinched the bridge of her nose and looked at Shi Youran’s five-month pregnant belly before suggesting, “You and Munian should work hard and have a few more kids. Then give one to the Shi Family—I can raise them myself just fine.”

Shen Munian was a bit younger than Shi Youwan, an S-Grade Alpha, Shi Youran’s husband, and the president of the Shen Group. The Shi and Shen families had been on good terms for years, their companies dominating half the sky in Jinhuai.

Shi Youran, who had anticipated this, covered her belly and instinctively shifted her body farther away from Shi Youwan.

Shi Youwan could clearly have children herself—why try to steal theirs?

But thinking from another angle, finding someone she was willing to bear children with wasn’t easy at all.

Fortunately, she and Shen Munian truly loved each other.

“Sis, don’t count on me. As you’ve seen, Miaomiao is only an A-Grade Omega right now—it’s hard to say if she’ll differentiate again into S-Grade. The Shen Family needs excellent heirs too. I’m A-Grade, so the odds of Mu Nian and me producing an S-Grade child are only 50%.”

With that, she looked toward Shi Youwan.

Why had this woman closed her eyes again while they were talking?

Was she that sleepy?

She sighed and took a sip of water to moisten her parched throat.

Then she offered advice to Shi Youwan: “If you really don’t want to be tied down by marriage, just secretly have a kid with that friend of yours, Yin Man. You know each other inside out, and you’re both S-Grade. Mom… probably wouldn’t say much. Or these days, isn’t ‘no dad, keep the kid’ all the rage…”

Shi Youwan opened her eyes again, her gaze turning icy from the discomfort as she swept it toward her sister: “Do you think it’s appropriate for the president of Shifeng Group to have a child out of wedlock?”

“…”

Fortunately, Shi Youran had been pampered by Shi Youwan growing up and knew her sister had only turned outwardly cold and inwardly warm after succeeding as president.

The old Shi Youwan had been easygoing and amiable, always wearing a faint, gentle smile.

After taking power, she’d had to harden her heart to establish authority, and with endless business piling up, she was swamped every day. If it were Shi Youran in her shoes, she probably wouldn’t smile either.

Shi Youran boldly tsked and complained, “Thinking about ‘appropriate’ now? I see you’ve been playing happy mom for years—the kid’s already eighteen—and you never bothered to debunk the rumors.”

Shi Youwan frowned at that, pulling her robe tighter around her neck to cover it more securely and reduce pheromone leakage.

Her pheromone scent was faint, but Chi Yumo was S+ Grade and inherently sensitive to pheromones.

Moreover, as an Omega marked by Chi Yumo, the craving and need were mutual between them.

“Groundless nonsense—it’s been quiet for ages. Why bring it up again?”

“Sigh, to be honest, Mom sent me to nag you about marriage and kids. She says you’re not getting any younger and should seriously consider settling down with a family.”

After her candid admission, Shi Youran jokingly asked, “Don’t tell me the rumors outside are true and you like Omegas? That Alpha lover upstairs is just purely for getting through your Heat Period?”

It wasn’t surprising for Shi Youran to prod her like this—the rumors about Shi Youwan over the years had been varied and endless, and her assistants always reported them. She’d grown used to it.

But that last remark from Shi Youran sparked a flicker of anger in her.

She shot to her feet and coldly snapped, “If you weren’t my own sister, you’d never set foot in this house again,” before turning and heading upstairs.

For two years, she’d kept Chi Yumo well hidden. Even when occasionally using her as a personal bodyguard after banquets, she’d ordered her to wear hat, mask, and gloves—full coverage.

The only people around her who had seen and knew Chi Yumo’s identity were the Old Mansion’s housekeeper, her personal assistant, and her driver.

They all addressed Chi Yumo as—Miss Mo.

As one of the rare S+ Grade Alphas, Shi Youwan knew that a lone, unsupported Chi Yumo was prone to danger—and as the president’s bedside partner, that danger multiplied. So she didn’t want Chi Yumo exposed to the public eye.

She always reminded Chi Yumo to carry Inhibitor Patches and avoid releasing pheromones in public.

Alphas and Omegas of general rank couldn’t detect Chi Yumo’s true level, but if an S-Grade Alpha or Omega was present, they’d quickly identify her pheromones as S+ Grade.

In the days after being intimate with Chi Yumo, Shi Youwan not only used Inhibitor Patches but also sprayed Barrier Agent to prevent others from smelling S+ Grade Alpha pheromones on her and tracing it back to Chi Yumo.

Chi Yumo was pure, clean, and kind, with her own goals and dreams to pursue. She couldn’t… ruin Chi Yumo’s life for her own selfish reasons.

Shi Youran could tell her sister was truly angry.

Watching her sister’s figure ascend the stairs, she sobered up, pondering which words had upset her.

Only when that figure vanished behind the third-floor door did she smooth her wrinkled skirt, drain the water in her cup, sigh, and leave the Old Mansion.

…

The bedroom remained pitch black.

As soon as Shi Youwan entered, Chi Yumo scooped her up horizontally.

The oncoming coconut scent enveloped her completely.

“Sister, I want your pheromones. I want to smell the floral scent, watch the flowers bloom, and… drink the nectar.”

The young Alpha’s tender sweet talk made the mature Omega’s heart and desires surge even more intensely. In the boundless darkness, she gifted her clear lotus fragrance to her little lover and presented blooming lotuses right before her.

The chaise by the window was like an inky solitary boat, seamlessly blending into the pure night, carrying the two travelers as it swayed onward—fearless of the thunder and lightning above, undaunted by the storm ahead.

“Xiao Mo,” the Omega tightened her grip on the silky hair that wasn’t her own, fingers interlacing and pulling upward, “come up.”

The usually obedient little lover complied, clasping one of Shi Youwan’s hands and embracing her.

She knelt on the chaise with one knee, her lotus-scented kisses lightly brushing Shi Youwan’s ear, mingling with the uncontrolled lotus fragrance spilling from her neck—growing thicker, more captivating.

The following coconut scent wrapped around Shi Youwan, filling the entire room, like being immersed in a hallucinatory dream, leaving her dazed and intoxicated.

As they merged, the little lover murmured: “Sister, I don’t want to hear them say you have a child—not even rumors.”

Chi Yumo had fallen gravely ill at ten, and upon waking, her hearing had become far sharper than normal. This was a secret between her and her grandmother.

Waiting by the door, she’d overheard the conversation downstairs.

She knew the eighteen-year-old child Shi Youran mentioned was Xiao Yi—two years ago, she’d fought with Xiao Yi, which had given her the chance to meet Shi Youwan.

At eighteen, Xiao Yi was already an adult.

Chi Yumo, now possessive of Shi Youwan, could no longer see Xiao Yi as just a kid.

Sensing the sudden jealousy, Shi Youwan tightened her arms, locking Chi Yumo firmly in her embrace.

She tilted her head, leveraging her swan-like neck’s graceful curve to perfectly receive Chi Yumo’s tender yet dominant gift, feeling the pheromones flood in endlessly—finally sating her body and soul.

The floor in this area was carpeted.

Chi Yumo held Shi Youwan barefoot as she stepped onto it—like treading clouds, like wading through water.

She’d been in this room many times, stayed many nights. Even without lights, she could gauge the exact distance with her steps.

She wouldn’t bump into anything herself—nor allow Shi Youwan to be bumped.

Exhausted, Shi Youwan could barely keep her eyelids open. She pulled Chi Yumo down onto the bed with her, still remembering to ruffle her hair: “Sleep first. We’ll wash in the morning.”

“Mm, okay, Sister.”

Chi Yumo, equally satisfied, pulled the covers over the marks.

Bright morning light filtered through half-drawn curtains into the room. On the misty blue bed, Chi Yumo lay on her side, sleepy-eyed and unfocused, gazing at the chaise by the window.

The two robes they’d tossed on it last night had been removed, and the room’s air purification system had run all night, dissipating the lingering blend of coconut and lotus scents. Only the pillows and bedding still held Shi Youwan’s natural fragrance.

Her outfit for the day lay on the nightstand—from sleepwear for all seasons to loungewear, casual clothes to uniforms, Shi Youwan had bought her everything.

All at affordable prices matching her spending level, so wearing them to school wouldn’t raise eyebrows.

She’d promised Shi Youwan she’d wear every piece, and Shi Youwan had promised to add those costs to her debt.

Right—she was Shi Youwan’s lover, but Shi Youwan was her creditor.

After washing up, she went downstairs. Shi Youwan was in the living room watching the morning news.

At home, Shi Youwan had shed her expensive tailored suits. The beige sleeveless long dress accentuated her poised elegance; her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, warm and noble. Even just her profile was a peerless work of art.

No matter how many times she’d seen her at home, Chi Yumo still stared in awe. After all, she still couldn’t believe that someone as insignificant as dust could share a pillow with the moon.

Every time she held her, it felt like a dream; every morning wake-up, she dreaded the dream’s end.

She didn’t approach to disturb her. The housekeeper came over and greeted, “Miss Mo.” Chi Yumo replied, “Aunt Han,” then headed to the dining room for breakfast.

“The eldest miss asked me to inquire what you’d like for lunch and dinner.” With Shi Youwan’s Heat Period hitting on a weekend, Chi Yumo was naturally staying for two days.

“Aunt Han, just go with Sister’s tastes. Whatever she likes, I like too.”

This wasn’t flattery—her preferences oddly matched Shi Youwan’s.

The housekeeper was just doing her routine check.

Shi Youwan preferred quiet; normally, no servants bustled through the main house. Household chores were scheduled precisely under Chen Han’s coordination and supervision, ensuring they didn’t disturb Shi Youwan and Chi Yumo’s routines.

After breakfast, Chi Yumo returned to the living room.

The TV had switched from news to a broadcast of an international sports event—table tennis, her favorite.

“Sister.” As she reached the sofa, Shi Youwan grabbed her wrist.

“I’m off today. Whatever you want to watch or do, I’ll keep you company.”

Chi Yumo’s eyes lit up. She sat beside Shi Youwan, interlocking their fingers: “Then let’s watch the match first, then… exercise for an hour?”

The gym had basic equipment—some bought back when Shi Youran still lived here for novelty, others specifically for Chi Yumo.

Shi Youran’s impulse buys were nearly pristine, but after Chi Yumo arrived, every piece got fully utilized.

In this luxurious mansion, Chi Yumo’s favorite spot was Shi Youwan’s bedroom; second was the downstairs gym.

Suggesting exercise was because she felt Shi Youwan’s body was too frail. Despite bodyguards for safety and nutritionists for meals, the benefits of exercise were irreplaceable.

But Shi Youwan deliberately misinterpreted her little lover’s intent, leaning in to ask: “Xiao Mo, how do you want to… exercise with me?”

“Sister…” The breath so close was like orchid fragrance, throwing Chi Yumo’s heartbeat into chaos.

In the dark, she was the spoiled wolf pup. But under broad daylight, Shi Youwan was the supreme ruler.

She revered and adored her, willingly submitting.

“Special time, and you drained so much of my energy last night—how do you think I can move?”

Shi Youwan’s plump, moist lips pecked at Chi Yumo’s small and delicate earlobe. From close range, she sniffed the coconut fragrance that the Alpha couldn’t help releasing, deliberately teasing, “Compared to exercising, maybe I should nurture my essence and store up my energy instead. What do you think, Xiao Mo?”