When Ye Chengxing woke up again, she found herself lying on the bed in the hospital room.
She rubbed her head and sat up from the bed.
Her gaze swept around the room, but she didn’t see Li Jia anywhere.
Recalling her memories from before, she only remembered that her susceptible period had come early all of a sudden. Then Li Jia had fetched the suppressant for her and even helped her inject it.
After the injection, she had lost consciousness, probably due to the suppressant taking effect.
Before the injection, though, she seemed to have told Li Jia to lock her up—no matter what, not to stay with her. It looked like Li Jia had left her alone in here.
That was for the best.
This was Ye Chengxing’s first time truly experiencing what a susceptible period felt like. The instinctive reaction was far stronger than any she’d imagined before, the attraction nearly fatal—especially with the extremely high pheromone compatibility between her and Li Jia. It was like a traveler who’d wandered the desert for ages finally spotting an oasis, a source of water. Her whole body felt like it was roasting over a fire, and only the other woman’s pheromones could offer any relief.
Ye Chengxing pressed her fingers to her brow.
Now that the suppressant had kicked in, that overwhelming body heat was gone.
Thinking about it, suppressants were incredibly effective. She should buy some more to stock up.
But…
As she lifted her hand, Ye Chengxing caught a familiar whiff of white peach sweet scent on her fingertips.
It was the smell of Li Jia’s pheromones.
Intensely rich and vivid.
Ye Chengxing took a moment to confirm she wasn’t imagining it.
Had it rubbed off when Li Jia was injecting the suppressant for her?
It smelled so good…
Unthinkingly, she sniffed her fingers again. Then she realized what she was doing and flushed red as she lowered her hand.
Sniffing the scent of an Omega’s pheromones that had accidentally gotten on her hand… no matter how she looked at it, it felt a little perverted…
Especially when Ye Chengxing lifted her eyes and saw that Li Jia had quietly opened the door to the hospital room at some point and was standing there watching her.
The moment their gazes met, Ye Chengxing felt the heat in her face spike even higher.
She instinctively looked away, coughed lightly, and tried to greet her in as natural a tone as possible. “Xiao Li, you’re back.”
Li Jia responded softly with acknowledgment, closed the door, and walked toward her with concern in her voice. “Sister, are you feeling better? Any lingering effects from the susceptible period?”
Ye Chengxing shook her head. “No lingering effects.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but sigh again. “Suppressants really work wonders.”
After saying that, Ye Chengxing saw that Li Jia’s expression remained calm and her tone natural. She figured the other woman probably hadn’t seen her secretly sniffing her fingertips.
Otherwise, if she asked what she was smelling, it would be utterly mortifying.
The Omega didn’t seem to have noticed a thing. After hearing her out, she turned to pour a cup of warm water and handed it over. “Sister, you’ve been asleep for a while. Drink some warm water first.”
Her tone was utterly considerate.
Ye Chengxing took the cup as she got out of bed. “You still have that injury on your hand. You don’t need to pour water for me.”
Li Jia curved her lips slightly. “It’s no trouble. Seeing that you’re much more spirited now puts my mind at ease.”
“Indeed, I owe you big time today,” Ye Chengxing said, holding the cup and speaking from the heart.
From what she’d read in the Physiology Handbook before, Alphas in susceptible periods were in a very dangerous state.
So she hadn’t expected Li Jia to not only fetch the suppressant but also inject it for her—and then tuck her into bed to rest afterward.
Her heart warmed at the thought, but after a moment’s hesitation, Ye Chengxing still cautioned her. “Still, in the future, don’t get involved with Alphas in susceptible periods. What if something unexpected happens? It’d be too dangerous.”
Li Jia blinked at her words. “I know. Besides, I’d only ever help Sister. I wouldn’t lift a finger for any other Alpha.”
As for unexpected situations…
She glanced at Ye Chengxing, concealing the faint threads of regret in her eyes.
She rather wished something unexpected would happen.
But Ye Chengxing had held out until her mind went hazy and still only told her to lock her up.
Recalling those words, Li Jia felt her heartbeat quicken uncontrollably.
—”Lock me up.”
How had she managed to say something like that with such an expression and tone? If the circumstances had been different, it would have been the most alluring sweet talk imaginable.
It really was… just thinking about it filled her with irrepressible excitement.
Not to mention walking in to find Ye Chengxing with her eyes downcast, savoring the scent on her fingertips—the pheromones she’d left behind.
The thoughts in her mind grew harder to rein in. After speaking, Li Jia forced an abashed expression onto her face and looked away, lest Ye Chengxing notice anything off.
Ye Chengxing paused for a second at her words.
…Li Jia trusted her even more than she’d imagined.
A flush crept into her ears, and at the same time, the resolve in Ye Chengxing’s heart grew even firmer.
She absolutely wouldn’t betray that trust.
After all, it was just a temporary hospital room. Now that Ye Chengxing’s sudden susceptible period had passed and everything was tidied up, the two of them prepared to leave.
Ye Chengxing opened the car door for Li Jia when she suddenly remembered she’d forgotten to buy more suppressants.
She turned to Li Jia and said, “Xiao Li, wait in the car for me first. I’m going to buy some suppressants.”
Li Jia started to get out upon hearing that. “Then I’ll go with you, Sister.”
“No, no need. Just wait in the car—it’s too much hassle for you to come down again.” Ye Chengxing leaned in, handing the car keys to Li Jia in the passenger seat. She smiled at the Omega, her eyes crinkling. “I’ll be right back.”
Li Jia stared at her for a moment, then lifted her fingertips with natural grace to hook out the Butterfly Necklace that was hidden beneath Ye Chengxing’s clothes. In a sweetly obedient tone, she said, “Okay, I’ll wait for Sister to come back.”
Ye Chengxing noticed the little gesture but didn’t think much of it. The necklace was a pair that Li Jia had made for them to wear together, after all, so she probably just wanted it visible at all times. Ye Chengxing sometimes preferred to keep it close to her skin.
After chatting with Li Jia, Ye Chengxing waved to signal she was off to buy them.
She headed back into the hospital.
Good thing she’d remembered.
The car hadn’t left yet, so coming back now was close. If she’d only thought of it after getting home, she’d have had to make another trip.
The hospital had a dedicated Inhibitor Vending Machine, and Ye Chengxing planned to buy some high-potency suppressants.
Although this susceptible period had mostly passed thanks to the suppressant, and the next one wouldn’t come for a long while, it was better to be prepared.
Ye Chengxing pondered to herself.
Like this afternoon, after the injection, she’d still slept for a bit once the effects kicked in. High-potency suppressants would probably work faster, which was more convenient—otherwise, passing out even briefly after an injection wasn’t ideal.
She looked at the Inhibitor Vending Machine in front of her.
She’d always bought suppressants directly before; this was her first time using one of these machines.
It was different from the vending machines she’d used previously. Ye Chengxing hesitated before the colorful buttons—none labeled—and the screen to the side.
“You just press here.”
At that moment, a gentle voice came from beside her ear. A hand reached over from behind, pressing several buttons on the machine in sequence.
Ye Chengxing hadn’t expected some kind passerby to help out. She turned around and thanked the woman sincerely. “Thank you.”
The woman who had pressed the buttons leaned on an evidently expensive cane, her skin rather pale. Meeting Ye Chengxing’s grateful gaze, she coughed weakly.
Her voice was cool, like ice cubes clinking against a glass, but her tone was soft. “You’re welcome. When the interface jumps again, just select the suppressant and pay with Star Coins.”
With that, the woman smiled. “I really didn’t expect to run into Miss Ye here again.”
Ye Chengxing had just finished paying with Star Coins. The machine dinged as the suppressant dropped into the pickup slot. She paused at the woman’s words, puzzled. “Have we met?”
“You probably haven’t seen me before, but I’ve reserved meals at your Gourmet Store a few times. They’re delicious,” the woman replied. “Though, there’s actually one rather awkward reason.”
As she said this, she kept smiling, but her pace slowed. Her eyes—black verging on translucent blue—fixed on Ye Chengxing, her intonation carrying a strange, subtle pause. “I’m Wen Qingxi. You could call me your… former marriage alliance candidate?”
