Chapter 1: The Untouchable Forbidden Ground

The lights in the KTV corridor flickered dimly, and Pei Shijin hurried after the server, her shoulder-length hair bouncing with each step.

Her beautiful face still held its usual gentle and serene expression, but a hint of excitement leaked from her eyes.

As the room numbers drew closer to 1256, her heart pounded more erratically, making her head spin without regard for anything else.

After what felt like a long walk, the server stopped in front of the 1256 private room. “Ma’am, we’re here.”

Pei Shijin hummed in acknowledgment. “Thank you.”

Before she could prepare to knock, the server pushed the door open. “Please come in.”

The noisy sounds from inside flooded Pei Shijin’s ears—catchy background music mixed with raucous singing.

But just as quickly, it was like someone hit pause; everyone in the room fell silent and turned toward the door.

“Sister Pei! You came!” Lu Yixue’s assistant, Xiao Fu, rushed over immediately. “The director is inside. I saw she was drunk, so I called you.”

Lu Yixue’s Medical Research Institute had recently overcome a major hurdle, so she invited everyone to celebrate. After a lavish dinner, they moved to the KTV.

No one expected Lu Yixue to get drunk. Her tolerance was usually decent, but she must have been too happy that day.

“Mm, thank you.” Without needing Xiao Fu’s guidance, Pei Shijin scanned the room once and locked onto Lu Yixue slumped in the corner sofa.

She strode over, her urgent steps obvious to anyone watching.

The others in the room watched Pei Shijin discreetly. She was a striking beauty, tall and graceful, with exquisitely painted features.

She wore a simple white cheongsam-style dress that exuded classical elegance—dignified, serene, warm, and approachable.

She didn’t seem like an Alpha at all.

An intern who had never met Pei Shijin sniffed discreetly as she passed. As expected, no scent.

Her pheromones were completely suppressed, even more Beta-like than a Beta.

Once she passed, the intern stared at the Inhibitor Ring around Pei Shijin’s neck. It matched the director’s couple’s style—a black leather band embedded with a red gem, disguised as jewelry.

Was there a crack on that gem? The intern couldn’t see clearly and didn’t dwell on it. The wearer would surely keep an eye on it.

In mere dozens of seconds, Pei Shijin reached Lu Yixue.

She half-knelt on the sofa and leaned down to check on her condition.

Lu Yixue lounged against one corner of the sofa, her thick, dark tea-colored curls cascading over her chest like a waterfall. A few strands were dampened by something and stuck to her rose-tinted cheeks, utterly alluring.

Her eyes were tightly shut, lashes casting trembling shadows in the hazy lights. Her red lips parted unconsciously, occasionally revealing a glimpse of her pink tongue tip, laced with the aroma of wine.

Amid the wine scent lingered a faint orchid fragrance.

It was extremely subtle, almost undetectable unless one got very close.

This was Lu Yixue’s pheromone scent. Perhaps due to the drunkenness, the pheromones she usually kept strictly guarded had turned playful, slipping out for a stroll.

Pei Shijin had to hold her breath. The pheromones stirring inside her were like wild beasts trapped in a cage, roaring at the delicious scent and straining to break free and seize their prey.

Her fingers trembled from the intense restraint, but her gentle expression remained unchanged—no one could tell she was holding back.

Fortunately, she was used to enduring. Moments later, she suppressed the improper greed.

Regaining her composure, Pei Shijin reached out carefully to tuck the stray strands from Lu Yixue’s cheek behind her ear.

But before her fingertips touched, Lu Yixue grabbed her wrist. Her eyelids fluttered open slightly, her body tensing as she emitted a dangerous warning aura.

“It’s me, Pei Shijin. I’ll carry you home.” Pei Shijin soothed her softly.

“Mm~” Lu Yixue struggled to focus her gaze, and once she confirmed the identity, she fully relaxed.

Pei Shijin persisted in tucking those unruly strands behind her ear, revealing the hidden earlobe—plump and rosy.

Her throat bobbed as she restrained her desire once more.

She stared at the flushed earlobe for several seconds before covering it back with hair.

One arm slid under her armpits to support her back, the other scooped under her legs. Pei Shijin easily lifted Lu Yixue into her arms.

She turned to Xiao Fu. “I’ll take her home first. You all have fun, but stay safe and make sure everyone gets home okay.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Pei.” Xiao Fu patted her chest confidently. “I’ve got experience. I’ll ensure everyone gets home safely.”

“Mm, thanks for the hard work. I’ll have Yixue give you a bonus later.” With that, Pei Shijin strode out.

This time, no need for the server to lead; Pei Shijin walked briskly ahead, and the server hurried to keep up and see her off.

Once the door closed, the room erupted in noise again, resuming the party.

Only the intern sidled up to Xiao Fu, eyes sparkling. “Sister Fu, Sister Pei seems so intimate with our director! The moment Sister Pei spoke, the director dropped all her defenses.”

“And neither of their pheromones can be smelled by anyone else—only for each other. So romantic~”

A flicker of complexity passed through Xiao Fu’s eyes. “Mm, Sister Pei really loves our director.”

“Who wouldn’t love our director? Born into a prestigious family, beautiful, and incredibly capable to boot. By the way, what does Sister Pei do for work?” The intern loved shipping couples; her latest celebrity pair had just broken up, leaving her bored.

“Sister Pei probably focuses on the family.” Xiao Fu wasn’t entirely sure. Though Sister Pei occasionally brought meals to the institute, she never chatted idly with anyone.

“Ah?” The intern was a bit disappointed. She only shipped power couples; an Alpha staying home as a housewife felt too weak.

Not much to ship there.

Pei Shijin was unaware that someone found her career unshippable with Lu Yixue. Her mind was entirely on the person in her arms.

Lu Yixue’s cheek pressed against her chest, her hot breaths scorching Pei Shijin’s heartbeat faster.

But afraid of disturbing her, Pei Shijin restrained herself and quickened her pace.

She was almost running.

Soon, they reached the underground garage. She placed her in the passenger seat.

After closing the door and circling to the driver’s side, Pei Shijin buckled her seatbelt. Looking up, she saw Lu Yixue had undone the buttons on her shirt’s abdomen, exposing a patch of rosy white skin.

With eyes still closed, Lu Yixue twisted restlessly, as if bugs crawled on her shirt. Her slender, jade-like fingers tugged chaotically at the chest buttons.

Like a silent invitation.

Gulp. Pei Shijin’s swallow echoed loudly in the quiet car.

Married for over four years, their intimate moments were few and far between—only when Lu Yixue was stressed or drunk did she get a chance for a spring breeze.

She was a normal person; desiring her beloved was perfectly natural.

Thinking of what might happen after getting home excited her immensely.

But not here—the car wasn’t safe.

Pei Shijin painfully tore her gaze from Lu Yixue’s chest. She placed a squeeze toy in her hands to occupy her fidgeting fingers, pulled a thin blanket from the back to cover her, turned on the AC, and played soft, soothing music.

Only after setting everything did she start the car.

Traffic was light, but she didn’t drive fast.

Pei Shijin couldn’t focus solely on the road; her peripheral vision kept drifting to Lu Yixue.

Her lips were so red…

Why was she biting her lip? Thirsty, probably…

Her breathing was so heavy—definitely thirsty…

Pei Shijin pulled over, grabbed a soda water, and fed her some.

The car idled by the roadside for five minutes before continuing.

The empty soda bottle lay between them, its rim glistening with lip balm under passing headlights.

The drive was pure torment. Even nearing home, Pei Shijin didn’t dare relax.

Only after placing Lu Yixue on the living room sofa did she exhale. “We’re home. I’ll get you some hangover soup.”

Lu Yixue didn’t respond. Pei Shijin noted her furrowed brow—must have drunk a lot this time.

The soup had been simmering when she left; now at perfect temperature. Pei Shijin poured it into a glass cup.

She hesitated, then added a straw.

“Here, drink some.” Pei Shijin inserted the straw into the parted red lips, deliberately brushing her fingertip over the plump flesh.

Lu Yixue had been conscious all along, but drunkenness scattered her thoughts and split her head with pain, leaving no energy for the outside world.

She forced her eyes open to look at Pei Shijin. “Help me bathe. Sorry for the trouble.”

Polite and distant.

She rarely asked Pei Shijin for bath help—this time must be truly miserable. Even so miserable, she insisted on bathing; her germaphobia was severe.

Holding the glass, Pei Shijin paused before humming. She coaxed softly, “Drink it all first.”

Soon, the glass was empty.

Pei Shijin set it down silently on the table without a sound.

She gazed quietly at Lu Yixue. Maybe it was the light, but her face seemed even redder than before.

She could never look enough, as if she could admire her forever, until the seas ran dry and rocks crumbled.

Impatient at the wait, Lu Yixue lifted her eyelids. Without a word, Pei Shijin scooped her up.

She carried her all the way to the bathroom before switching to one-armed support.

Lu Yixue’s shirt buttons were half-undone—only the top two and bottom one remained.

Pei Shijin reached for the collar button, close to her neck. She proceeded cautiously, as if handling something extremely perilous.

Once undone, the loose shirt slipped halfway down, baring pale skin.

The black Inhibitor Ring hugged Lu Yixue’s tender white neck tightly, its red gem sparkling under the light.

Pei Shijin stared at the Inhibitor Ring for two seconds before resuming, her stray thoughts seemingly fully quelled by it.

Soon, she finished bathing her, dried her, changed her into pajamas, and tucked her into bed.

Pei Shijin returned to the bathroom, turned the water cold, and let it rush over her face-up.

The inner agitation slowly ebbed with the chill. She shut off the water and exhaled.

She didn’t handle it herself—her own hand would only fan the flames hotter.

But back in the bedroom, a surprise awaited.

Only the bedside lamp emitted a dim, soft glow; the rest was shrouded in darkness.

Pei Shijin approached the bed and fumbled to check the covers on Lu Yixue when her neck was pulled.

Soft lips pressed against hers, carrying the fresh scent of toothpaste.

They used the same flavor, but Pei Shijin found Lu Yixue’s taste sweeter.

Their lips and tongues tangled, reigniting the fire Pei Shijin had just suppressed.

This desire had simmered too long—like a spark igniting a prairie fire, unstoppable once started.

Their last deep kiss like this was during New Year’s, with drunk Lu Yixue yielding to exploration.

But her movements remained gentle, devoid of aggression, just like her mild-mannered personality.

“Harder.” Lu Yixue’s voice was low and husky, laced with peachy lust—nothing like her usual aloof exterior.

Pei Shijin said nothing, fearing her dry throat would betray her agitation. She simply deepened the force.

Her long, strong fingers trailed over Lu Yixue’s delicate skin, fingertips dancing and rubbing to elicit shivers.

Soft moans escaped Lu Yixue’s red lips intermittently, spurring Pei Shijin on. She gripped her waist to shift positions.

But her fingers accidentally brushed the Inhibitor Ring at Lu Yixue’s neck.

The next second, slap—Pei Shijin’s hand was smacked away hard.

Because she had touched Lu Yixue’s forbidden ground.

An Omega’s most vulnerable spot exposed was the gland. Once bitten by an Alpha and injected with pheromones during marking, the Omega became a slave to those pheromones, losing their own will.

Since differentiating as an Omega, Lu Yixue had never removed the Inhibitor Ring except for cleaning or replacement.

It firmly imprisoned her pheromones within the gland and protected it from invasion.

She would not allow herself to lose control.

This layer of armor guarded against everyone, especially Pei Shijin, the Alpha whose pheromones matched hers at 100%.

Simply smelling Pei Shijin’s pheromones could make Lu Yixue’s mind sway and her emotions turn to chaos—not to mention a temporary mark.

They had been married for four years, and aside from the period when Lu Yixue was pregnant, the two had shared no pheromones at all.

They were just like a pair of Betas without glands.

The back of her hand did not hurt much. Pei Shijin recovered from her daze in just ten seconds and continued with the action that had been interrupted.

She secretly warned herself in her heart that next time, she must be more careful and avoid making such a low-level mistake again.