Chapter 32: Who Is She Talking To? Part 2

Zhu Lexing had always been pampered and spoiled growing up, but lately, especially around Yan Mian, she seemed utterly transformed.

Liu Su had sensed something amiss, but observing their interactions made all the pieces fall into a hazy explanation.

Because of her feelings, she had grown so much.

In the surveillance footage, the two girls’ contact went far beyond what Liu Su had anticipated. But she also knew that during the differentiation period, it was a good thing for an Alpha to be exposed to an Omega’s pheromones.

What surprised her even more was that Yan Mian had taken the initiative.

Liu Su let out a sigh. “Little Mian, you’ve gone through a lot.”

“It’s nothing.”

Yan Mian glanced at Zhu Lexing on the sofa and said calmly, “As long as Lexing is okay, that’s fine.”

Yan Mian looked away.

She had considered that Zhu Lexing’s differentiation might go wrong because of that inhibitor shot, but she hadn’t expected pheromone disorder syndrome. From now on, if she refused to have any contact with Zhu Lexing, the girl’s body would naturally start acting up.

Yan Mian suddenly realized that at this very moment, she didn’t need to do anything at all—she had already won some kind of victory.

What she wanted wasn’t to make Zhu Lexing pay the appropriate price and suffer just like her?

Those past events were still vivid in her mind. Yan Mian couldn’t say she’d forgotten them, but what she couldn’t admit even to herself was that she’d already started forgetting how “nice” the current Zhu Lexing was to her.

The hallway was wide and seemed endless. Her suppressed emotions slowed her steps.

When she saw the familiar door to Zhu Lexing’s room, Yan Mian paused for several seconds. She decided to set down the tray, knock, and leave.

Until a female voice suddenly rang out from inside—

“I’ve told you eight hundred times already!” Zhu Lexing’s voice was laced with particular frustration, tinged with an indistinct sadness. “Don’t play matchmaker! After all, isn’t my current state all because of you?”

“If it weren’t for you…”

Her voice trailed off suddenly. By the time Yan Mian strained to listen, she could no longer make it out clearly.

A few seconds later, Zhu Lexing spoke again: “In any case, I know what I’m doing!”

Separated by just a single door.

Yan Mian looked up in a daze.

…Who was Zhu Lexing talking to?

Zhu Lexing’s one-sided conversation continued, but downstairs, the doctor raised her voice at that moment: “Miss Yan, Ms. Liu would like to speak with you.”

The room was extremely well soundproofed. If Zhu Lexing hadn’t been speaking with such anger and volume, Yan Mian never would have heard her through the door.

So.

Normally, Zhu Lexing inside the room wouldn’t have heard the doctor’s words.

But the very second the doctor’s voice faded, the room fell silent.

Yan Mian slowly backed away until she was a good distance from the door, then finally responded, “Got it.”

“Breakfast is at the door.” Yan Mian knocked on the door.

Footsteps shuffled inside, and Zhu Lexing’s muffled voice came through: “I know.”

As she headed downstairs, that door kept flashing in Yan Mian’s mind. It was clearly shut tight and immovable, yet she felt like she’d pried open a crack.

Liu Su got off work that evening.

She had informed Zhu Lin about Zhu Lexing’s differentiation.

He was thrilled beyond measure. For a Beta’s genes to produce an Alpha daughter, that was something especially worth celebrating in the Zhu Family. Liu Su found it bitterly ironic, but right then, she wished she could be as blissfully ignorant as Zhu Lin.

Pheromone disorder syndrome. She repeated the name of the illness to herself, sent all the servants home early to rest, and knocked on Yan Mian’s door.

There were no surveillance cameras in the bedroom.

She and Yan Mian ended up chatting idly in one corner of the sofa.

Yan Mian was clearly prepared for the questions, saying calmly, “I know she’s sick.”

“…I’m the only one who can help her, right?”

Liu Su watched her and sighed. “Little Mian, you’ve always gotten along as just friends, with feelings only for each other as friends. But Lexing…”

Yan Mian shook her head slightly. “It’s fine. Auntie and Lexing have helped me so much. I want to… repay you both a little.”

Yan Mian’s easy willingness to cooperate left Liu Su at a loss for words. Over these past few months, her impression of Yan Mian had been exceptionally positive. If not for the sudden turn of events, she wouldn’t have wanted the two girls entangled in anything strange—it sounded too ugly.

But after years navigating the entertainment industry, she still instinctively questioned Yan Mian’s motives. But… what motives could a student even have? Did she want to break into showbiz and achieve fame and fortune?

If Yan Mian wanted that, she could negotiate directly with Liu Su. It might get messy, but she’d gain far more benefits than she had now. In any case, there was no flicker in the girl’s eyes—she seemed utterly sincere.

Liu Su felt ashamed for doubting Yan Mian’s sincerity.

Their conversation ended with Liu Su pulling Yan Mian into a hug and saying softly, “You don’t need to go overboard. Just provide some pheromone soothing when it’s necessary. Mianmian, you’re a good girl. Make sure you protect yourself.”

“…If.” Liu Su fell silent for a moment, as if wrestling with her words. “If Lexing gets impulsive one day…”

Yan Mian listened quietly, thinking at first that Liu Su was about to advise her to go along with it.

The next second, the woman’s gentle voice sounded in her ear: “Just leave her alive.”

Seated primly at her desk reviewing her lessons, Zhu Lexing: “………………”

Ever since hearing the doctor’s words that afternoon, Zhu Lexing had the System keep an eye on the living room.

When Liu Su mentioned “impulsive,” Zhu Lexing had thought she was going to pull a Jiang Yue—tell Yan Mian to just endure and submit, and end up marrying into the Zhu Family as the young mistress.

That line about leaving her alive made Zhu Lexing breathe a sigh of relief.

It sounded a bit chilling, but at least this time, what Yan Mian had learned from others wasn’t submission.

She lowered her gaze to the problems on the page. The numbers blurred together. She turned the page and thought quietly, as expected.

Yan Mian’s kindness wasn’t free.

But just as Zhu Lexing wanted to “distance” herself from Yan Mian, Yan Mian wanted to distance herself from the Zhu Family—or rather, from her current life entirely.

That was perfectly normal.

What Zhu Lexing wanted most was for Yan Mian to have her own life and independence.

So… what’s wrong with things the way they are now? We each get what we need and gain what we want.

At worst, it’s just holding hands.

The future still looks plenty bright.

After a thorough round of self-brainwashing, Zhu Lexing turned her focus to her studies. She’d differentiated just yesterday, but tomorrow brought the dreaded final exams. The doctor had said school wasn’t advisable, yet she’d busted her ass all semester precisely to shine come finals time!

She had to prove herself!

Even if she was a little useless, she’d be a smart little useless one!

The next day.

Zhu Lexing was still groggy when she woke early, but that cleared up the moment she headed downstairs and spotted Liu Su and Yan Mian at the dining table.

Yan Mian was gnawing on a sandwich with visible effort. The ones on the plate next to her were either charred black all over or burnt in patches—textbook examples of dark cuisine.

Liu Su, her hair tied back, carried out another plate. Spotting Zhu Lexing, she smiled. “Xingxing, finals today, right? Just do your best—no need to push too hard.”

Zhu Lexing stared at her, stunned.

In the past, by the time Liu Su got home, the two of them were already asleep. The next morning, she’d either still be resting or off to an early shift at work.

So why today…

“I read online that newly differentiated Alphas need lots of company.” Liu Su spoke casually. “Mom’s been swamped with work, but I’ll put it on hold for now and keep you company. Summer break starts after exams, yeah? Want me to take you and Mianmian out somewhere fun?”

Zhu Lexing stood frozen in place, her vision growing blurrier by the second.

She’d lived twenty years in her last life, and no one had ever gotten up early to make her breakfast, asked if she wanted to go out playing, where she’d like to go, or cheered her on before exams.

The more she dwelled on it, the more mortified she felt.

She averted her eyes. “We’ll talk after exams. Don’t say any more, or I’ll forget everything I reviewed last night.”

Liu Su’s face lit up with surprise. “You actually reviewed? Lexing, you’re incredible.”

Yan Mian nodded along, chiming in perfectly on cue. “Lexing’s been… really diligent at school. Her mistakes have been fewer and fewer lately.”

That set Liu Su off on another round of praise.

Zhu Lexing: “…”

It was like they were talking to a little kid!

And how the hell did Yan Mian know about her fewer mistakes? Zhu Lexing handed over her homework directly—when had she snuck a peek?

Unsure how to respond, Zhu Lexing just sat down at the table in silence.

She eyed the jet-black sandwich for several seconds, unable to fathom the torments it must have endured in its former life. Still, she picked one up and took a resolute bite—

It tasted exactly as bad as she’d feared. Like whatever flavor overcooked mushy rice had, times ten.

Zhu Lexing’s mouth twitched open; she wanted to tell Yan Mian to stop eating.

Her body’s already fragile—don’t go spitting up blood mid-meal—

But Liu Su was watching them both with rapt attention, shy yet brimming with anticipation. Zhu Lexing forced down a couple chews and yanked the plate in front of herself.

Yan Mian let out a quiet breath of relief and glanced her way.

Zhu Lexing struck a cool pose and intoned gravely, “This is good. Real good. Outstanding!”

Liu Su frowned faintly. “Good or not, you can’t hog them all from Mianmian.”

Zhu Lexing itched to grab her by the shoulders and shake some realistic perspective into her about her cooking.

Yan Mian beat her to it, interjecting gently. “It’s okay, Auntie. I’m stuffed already.”

Liu Su finally backed off.

She pondered for a few seconds, then jolted as if remembering something and hurried to the kitchen. “My dumplings—”

Zhu Lexing wondered if she’d stumbled into a sitcom set.

Liu Su’s dumplings had, predictably, fused to the pot, but she’d salvaged four. Yan Mian and Zhu Lexing got two each.

One bite in, and Zhu Lexing figured they must’ve bought salt in bulk—the dough wrapper was absurdly thick—

When Yan Mian finally rose and murmured that it was time for school, Zhu Lexing could have sworn she heard an angel’s chorus.

Their bags hung by the entryway. Zhu Lexing snagged hers without thinking and trailed after Yan Mian.

Out front of the villa, the morning light bathed everything in a soft glow, the garden bursting with verdant life.

Yan Mian waved from beside the car. “Bye, Auntie.”

Zhu Lexing watched the scene in a daze. Catching Liu Su’s gaze on her, she bit her lip and waved too.

“…We’re heading out. Mom.”