Chapter 38 Part 2

Yan Mian nodded, then inexplicably added, “Zhu Lexing, were your ears red a moment ago?”

Zhu Lexing startled and denied it on reflex. “Of course not.”

Yan Mian let out a breath of relief, confirming to herself inwardly.

Zhu Lexing had heard it.

《Bygone Youth》 lived up to its youthful theme.

The entire theater held just four people, averaging eighteen years old.

Their pre-selected seats were pointless now—sit wherever they pleased.

Qiao Qiao naturally took the front row seats with Xu He. Yan Mian set her bag down, and during the previews, she said a little sheepishly, “Actually, the plot… isn’t all that engaging.”

Zhu Lexing mulled it over before realizing Yan Mian was embarrassed.

“It’s fine,” Zhu Lexing said. “First films are always like that.”

“Besides, most dramas don’t have great plots anyway.” Zhu Lexing blurted out her honest opinion, then worried she hadn’t been comforting enough and racked her brain for a follow-up. But Yan Mian’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes lighting up with genuine amusement.

“I know,” Yan Mian said.

Zhu Lexing: “…You seem really happy. You keep smiling.”

Yan Mian replied, “It depends on who I’m with.”

Zhu Lexing: “…”

Did that mean Yan Mian was happy to be with her?

Zhu Lexing was at a loss for words.

The movie’s plot matched the synopsis to a tee.

The protagonist was an Alpha from a poor family, but her childhood friend Friend B—from a well-off background—treated her like family. They advanced through school together from elementary on up, sweethearts for over a decade, with the protagonist’s crush on Friend B obvious to everyone.

Except Friend B, who remained clueless. Amid all this sweet, innocent tension, the charismatic transfer student played by Yan Mian arrived.

Friend B fell head over heels for Yan Mian at first sight, but Yan Mian’s character took a sudden interest in the protagonist instead. Cue a tangled love triangle of “you love me, but I love her; I love her, but she loves you.”

After scenes packed with melodrama—not limited to “missing their final moments with their parents because of a date gone wrong” and “Don’t you dare say my sister sent you, or I’ll wreck your whole damn career”—the trio finally snapped out of it. Studying was the only true path.

So they buckled down, aced their exams, and all got into top universities in a single year.

They crossed paths again years later at a class reunion.

The protagonist, Friend B, and Yan Mian had become the successful adults they’d once dreamed of. The protagonist and Friend B finally confessed their feelings, but they still didn’t end up together.

After all, youth looks best captured forever in photo albums.

That was the movie’s final line.

After sitting through the whole thing, Zhu Lexing felt like she’d watched a whole lot of nothing.

Any film that latches onto “misunderstandings” as its hook is guaranteed to drown in over-the-top drama.

But while she brimmed with skepticism, the other three looked genuinely touched.

Zhu Lexing: ???

Fine, Qiao Qiao and Xu He were locals, so maybe that made sense—but Yan Mian, you’re an actress. What’s with the nostalgia?

Yan Mian said, “I had no idea how it ended. We wrapped filming right after the high school scenes.”

Zhu Lexing: “…What do you think of the ending?”

Yan Mian said earnestly, “It’s the kind of thing that, if I ever make it big, I’d bury as my black history.”

After the movie, Qiao Qiao drove Xu He home, while Zhu Lexing tagged along with Yan Mian to pick out a gift.

Personally, Zhu Lexing figured anything would work given Qiao Qiao and Xu He’s current relationship. But Yan Mian was too proud to settle for something casual like the video blessing Zhu Lexing had sent last time—she’d never live it down.

The two took a cab to another shopping mall, one partly owned by the Liu family. They picked up diamond cards at the entrance, and a manager shadowed them the whole time, letting them browse freely on their reputation alone.

Plenty of stares came their way, and Yan Mian clearly wasn’t comfortable with it. Once Zhu Lexing dismissed the manager, she said, “Nothing too extravagant. At least don’t overshadow Qiao Qiao’s gift.”

Yan Mian nodded solemnly, absorbing the advice.

Zhu Lexing fell quiet after that. Truth be told, in her previous life, she’d had hardly any real friends. Gift exchanges were just business formalities, casually handled by her agent without much sincerity.

Eventually, they stepped into an upscale stationery shop.

As Yan Mian browsed intently, Zhu Lexing suddenly remembered that Yan Mian’s birthday was coming up.

Eighteen—adulthood. A major milestone.

Qiao Qiao’s birthday could be brushed off lightly, and Xu He’s with a token gesture. But Yan Mian’s had to be special, grand enough to leave her with happy memories—even if not over-the-top, at least filled with joy.

What should she get?

For a moment, both of them were lost in identical worries.

Zhu Lexing broke the silence first, wandering to another section. The brand was running a collab with some anime, hawking a line of themed stationery. The standout display was a rabbit-and-giraffe duo, all soft pinks and pure girly charm.

“This one,” Zhu Lexing decided. She hadn’t seen the anime, but something cute and pink felt thoughtful.

Yan Mian selected the rabbit fountain pen.

Zhu Lexing grabbed the matching giraffe notebook beside it.

The pair set them back a four-figure sum, and Zhu Lexing couldn’t help thinking the manufacturer deserved to be strung up by their thumbs for a century.

As they left the shop, Yan Mian spotted a perfume store next door and picked up a bottle with lemon as the top note.

Facing Zhu Lexing’s gaze, Yan Mian said, “Xu He is a Beta, but Qiao Qiao is an Alpha.”

The implication was clear: even if the two were together, Xu He couldn’t smell Qiao Qiao’s pheromones. This was an age-old argument among non-AO couples—they were always quarreling over not being able to detect each other’s scents while others could sense them just fine.

Pheromones couldn’t be bottled up and saved, but scents could be mimicked. That’s where custom pheromone perfumes came in.

Gifting a bottle of perfume was, in a sense, a way for Xu He to finally “feel” Qiao Qiao.

It was a brilliant idea.

Zhu Lexing marveled at her thoughtfulness.

But the next second, she asked, “What if Qiao Qiao gives her the same thing?”

Yan Mian: “…”

It wasn’t out of the question.

Seeing her lost in thought, looking troubled, Zhu Lexing said, “Even if she does, no big deal. Just buy it for yourself to use.”

Yan Mian tilted her head. “Would you use it?”

Zhu Lexing: “…”

Of course not!

Spritzing herself with a friend’s pheromone scent as perfume? If word got out, people would whisper all sorts of nonsense—like she had a crush on Qiao Qiao?

Yan Mian simply reached up and took down another full bottle, this one illustrated all over with gardenia blossoms: Gardenia Scent perfume.

“This one,” she said with a faint smile.

Zhu Lexing assumed it was for her.

Gardenia pheromones paired with Gardenia Scent perfume… wasn’t that a touch self-indulgent? Still, it was a kind gesture from Yan Mian, and Zhu Lexing wouldn’t dream of refusing. “I’ll ring it up.”

“No.” Yan Mian turned her down flat, giving a reason that left Zhu Lexing rooted to the spot. “I’m… getting it for myself.”

Zhu Lexing: “…”

An Omega buying Alpha pheromone perfume right in front of an Alpha—and claiming it was for personal use.

If she’d stumbled across a post like that online, Zhu Lexing would’ve jumped into the comments without hesitation: 【Don’t love too much】

But coming from Yan Mian…

Zhu Lexing could only stand there in silence.

Yan Mian let Zhu Lexing’s gaze roam over her face unchecked.

As she paid, she quietly watched the Alpha’s reflection in the mirror.

Zhu Lexing heard it loud and clear.

She reaffirmed the suspicion she’d harbored all afternoon.

~~~

Xu He’s birthday party was at a five-star hotel, and since it doubled as her coming-of-age celebration, everything had been pulled out with extra flair.

She’d copy-pasted the full itinerary into the group chat.

Zhu Lexing skimmed it at a glance—nothing but upscale events—and typed quietly in the group: Do we need to dress up formal?

-? Nah, you guys don’t have to. Just grab some cake and bounce!

-Truth be told, skipping it is fine too. Way too many people; I might not even get to chat with you properly.

Zhu Lexing figured that was just the kind of “problem” rich heiresses dealt with.

The party lived up to her expectations: celebrities milling about everywhere, most of them familiar faces from her casual scrolls through the entertainment feeds on Star Net.

It suddenly clicked for Zhu Lexing, and she asked the System: 【Xu He’s family…】

【Her parents are shareholders in a publicly listed company,】 the System replied. 【And that company just invested in a big drama production.】

Zhu Lexing: “…”

So this birthday bash was, in some ways, a networking schmooze-fest for stars chasing resources?

Zhu Lexing was used to that sort of thing and brushed it off. She glanced around before turning to Yan Mian. “What do you want to eat? I’ll grab it for you.”

But after a few unanswered prompts, she looked over at the Omega beside her.

The girl was unusually tense—not in an obvious way, but her lip was caught slightly between her teeth, her fingers clenched tighter around her bag. She finally registered Zhu Lexing’s words and murmured, “I…”

Zhu Lexing paused, then soothed her. “Relax. Pretend you’re just at home.”

Yan Mian stared at her, dazed.

Zhu Lexing held out her hand. “If it’s too much… let’s deliver the gift first. Then we can—”

She broke off midsentence, frozen in place.

Zhu Lexing stared at Yan Mian’s hand resting lightly in her palm. After a few beats of silence, she couldn’t stop herself. “I meant, if you’re too shy, I can take the gift up for you…”

Yan Mian belatedly started to pull away.

But Zhu Lexing had already closed her fingers around it, tugging her gently into the crowd.

“…Though this works too,” Zhu Lexing said, face impassive. “You’ll run into bigger crowds than this down the line. No need to get worked up.”

Snapped out of her fluster, Yan Mian now felt a wave of embarrassment.

Zhu Lexing’s grip was firm, though—Yan Mian couldn’t slip free. She let herself be led right up to Xu He.

Xu He looked polished to perfection that night, elegant gown hugging her frame as she stood between a middle-aged couple, pasting on an awkward smile. She seemed a little ill at ease, but the happiness shining through was unmistakable.

“Happy birthday,” Zhu Lexing said.

Xu He’s eyes sparked to life. “Ah! Xingxing—Mianmian—”

Yan Mian managed a smile of her own. “Happy birthday.”

Xu He lunged forward for a hug, only to be reeled back by the woman beside her. She tottered over instead, high heels wobbling awkwardly.

Gifts were stacked high, artfully arranged like some kind of top-heavy tree.

Zhu Lexing eyed them. “All presents?”

Xu He laughed. “Just the empty boxes! All those gifts would bankrupt us—the party’s pricey enough as it is. Can’t be extravagant. So, what’d you two get me?”

She untied the ribbon with care.

A notebook. A pen. Matching collab editions, same color scheme, just different crossover characters stamped on each.

Xu He’s gaze flicked between the two of them, her smile turning sly and knowing.

Yan Mian fidgeted, still on edge. “You don’t like it?”

She looked ready to pivot to Plan B at the first hint of no.

Xu He beamed. “Love it! Thank you!”

She hugged Yan Mian tightly, rubbing her face against Yan Mian’s cheek over and over. Yan Mian found herself enveloped in the scent of violet perfume, certain that her face was now smeared with powder. Feeling helpless inside, she instinctively glanced at Zhu Lexing. But the Alpha merely stood there with a gentle gaze.

After hesitating for several seconds, Yan Mian tentatively returned the embrace.

Having rubbed off half her powder, Xu He turned her eyes to Zhu Lexing once more.

“AB don’t get too intimate!” Zhu Lexing declared.

So much for the hug!

Xu He shot back, “Who said I wanted to hug you? That’s not what I was going to say—”

Zhu Lexing figured she was about to spout something utterly unhinged, so she grabbed Yan Mian’s hand to drag her away.

But Xu He bubbled over with excitement. “I’ve been telling you two—you’re a couple! Refusing to admit it! You even picked out couple-style gifts. Mianmian, was it you? You’ve finally opened—”

For once, Yan Mian took the initiative to cut someone off.

“What do you mean, couple-style?”

Xu He fished her phone out from some hidden fold in her gown and showed the two of them the fan shipping page for the pen-and-notebook collab characters.

Zhu Lexing was utterly floored.

Who in their right mind would ship a bunny and a giraffe as a couple when picking out gifts? Niche pairings were one thing, but this was just plain bizarre—

But Yan Mian’s gaze had already settled on Zhu Lexing’s face.

Zhu Lexing, remembering that she was the one who’d suggested buying the damn things in the first place: “…”