Chapter 6: Sour Bubbles Bubbling in Her Heart

In high school, from the very first day she followed behind Lu Yixue, Pei Shijin had been warned by others that Lu Yixue greatly disliked Alphas and that she must never approach her while carrying the scent of Alpha pheromones.

At that time, Pei Shijin had been grateful that she was just an ordinary Beta, able to stay by Lu Yixue’s side.

But she had never delved deeply into why Lu Yixue hated Alphas so much—hated them to the point that she rarely spent time with her own Alpha mother.

Later, after her secondary differentiation into an Alpha, the Lu Family came knocking. Pei Shijin felt both thrilled and deeply uneasy.

Yet in the face of life and death, Pei Shijin was willing to be the person Lu Yixue hated.

She had prepared herself mentally in every way possible.

But after their marriage, Lu Yixue was only emotionally distant toward her and never harmed her. In fact, she was considerate in every aspect.

As long as… as long as she acted like a Beta, Lu Yixue surely wouldn’t drive her away.

Pei Shijin applied a bandage, started the car, and her eyes darkened with a sinister glint.

Childhood sweethearts, arranged marriages—none of that mattered.

When she got home, Pei Shijin changed her shoes and carried her backpack back to the bedroom.

Lu Yixue’s inhibitors were kept in the nightstand on her side of the bed.

She pulled open the drawer and saw two metallic briefcases gleaming inside—these were the thermostatic cases for the inhibitors.

Pei Shijin took them out and placed them on the nightstand, opening both.

Each case could hold ten doses of inhibitors. One had only two left, while the other was full.

The former was the one Pei Shijin had swapped last time; the latter was the new one Lu Yixue had brought back.

Pei Shijin deftly swapped the ones she had brought with Lu Yixue’s new batch.

She closed the lid and put that case back.

Then, Pei Shijin stared at the case with only two doses left, sensing something off.

Last month, Lu Yixue’s heat had lasted six days, averaging two doses per day. At the end, that case still had eight left.

Today was the third day of her heat this month—she should have used five doses by now. Why was one missing?

The Research Institute had spares, and Lu Yixue was someone who loved routines; she generally wouldn’t take extra.

Had something gone wrong with the inhibitors, making them less effective and forcing Lu Yixue to use an extra one?

At that thought, Pei Shijin’s heart tightened.

Even though she desperately wanted an unbreakable bond with Lu Yixue, it could never come at the cost of Lu Yixue’s health or life.

First, she would check these remaining two doses, then coax Lu Yixue into a thorough gland examination.

Two-pronged approach—the best outcome would be if the inhibitors were faulty. Even better if it was just a mix-up, like Lu Yixue accidentally breaking one.

That hopeful scenario eased Pei Shijin’s tension a bit.

With her thoughts clear, Pei Shijin quickly pulled out the case she had just put away and swapped two doses to replace the suspicious ones.

After all that swapping, it was a good thing her memory was sharp; otherwise, these identical items could easily get mixed up.

Suddenly, the doorknob turned.

Pei Shijin’s hands moved faster than her brain—she kicked her own case under the bed. But Lu Yixue’s two cases were too late to put back.

“What are you doing?” Lu Yixue’s gaze shifted from Pei Shijin’s inhibitor ring to the corner of the thermostatic case peeking out. Her tone was no different from usual.

Over the years, Pei Shijin’s behavior had earned Lu Yixue’s trust.

Pei Shijin tugged at her inhibitor ring and turned with a forced calm smile. “I was thinking of cleaning and saw your inhibitors, so I figured I’d check the expiration dates while I was at it.”

“Mm, you don’t need to worry about that.” Lu Yixue didn’t press further, even though the excuse sounded flimsy.

No Omega would keep expired inhibitors in their own bedroom.

Lu Yixue never nitpicked over harmless little things.

“Why are you back? Do you need anything from me?” Pei Shijin let out a breath of relief and asked quickly.

Lu Yixue rarely came home at this hour. During work time, she only handled major matters—rigidly so.

In these years, Pei Shijin had only seen her make an exception for their daughter.

“Bai Mingsong needs a photocopy of our junior high graduation photo, so I came back to get it for her.” As Lu Yixue spoke, she pulled out the photo album and flipped straight to the junior high graduation page, extracting the photo.

Pei Shijin nearly lost her smile. Coming home in the middle of the morning just for a lousy photo?

Not surprising, given their childhood friendship. Even after all these years apart, the affection was still fresh and warm.

“I’m going to the bathroom.” Her palm wound throbbed faintly, and Pei Shijin feared it might bleed again and leak pheromones, so she decided to leave the bedroom immediately.

Lu Yixue hummed in acknowledgment, but when she looked up, she saw Pei Shijin bolting out as if a starving wolf were chasing her.

She got up and opened the bedroom bathroom door—lights fine, ventilation fine, everything normal.

Why skip the closer one and run out?

Lu Yixue couldn’t figure it out and had no intention of asking. Over the years, Pei Shijin’s odd behaviors had decreased year by year.

She hadn’t pried back then, and she certainly wouldn’t now.

After tending to her wound and ensuring no pheromones would leak, Pei Shijin emerged from the bathroom.

She ran into Lu Yixue coming out of the study, the photo now framed.

How precious that photo must be.

Couldn’t she just snap a picture and send it to Bai Mingsong? Why personally deliver it and hand it over in person?

Sour bubbles bubbled in Pei Shijin’s heart.

She and Lu Yixue only had family portraits and one high school graduation group photo—no couple shots.

Pei Shijin’s phone was full of Lu Yixue photos, but Lu Yixue’s album had none of her.

Pei Shijin smiled faintly as she saw Lu Yixue off. All the fruits were of her own sowing.

How could she embrace the moon in her arms and still crave its solitary glow?

Pei Shijin, be content.

Once Lu Yixue was out of sight, Pei Shijin composed herself.

If she couldn’t regulate her emotions quickly, Lu Yixue would have discovered her true face long ago and kicked her out.

After lunch, Pei Shijin took the inhibitors and drove to Jiu Lu Hospital, finding Dr. Feng.

“Dr. Feng, please check if there’s anything wrong with these two doses.”

Dr. Feng, who had been leisurely listening to music, jumped up from her chair. “Is the Eldest Young Lady in trouble?”

Please no—she was almost free. Let her rest for a bit first.

Pei Shijin shared her discovery and suspicions. “It might just be me overthinking, but better safe than sorry.”

“Yes, yes, can’t slack off at the end. Must stay vigilant. Hopefully it’s just a misunderstanding.” Dr. Feng thought for a moment. “The Eldest Young Lady just had a checkup; getting her back here soon will be tough.”

“I’ll handle it.” Pei Shijin already had a plan.

To get a handle on someone, strike at what they care about most.

Soon it was Friday, and Lu Yixue took the whole day off for the kindergarten sports day.

Gao Ye’an wasn’t there today, so Pei Shijin and her little family of three headed to the kindergarten together.

Lu Yixue had swapped her suit; Pei Shijin skipped the qipao. All three wore matching sportswear: short sleeves, long pants, and light jackets.

A spliced design of pale pink and sky blue, like wearing the morning glow and vast blue sky—brimming with youthful vitality.

Though identical in proportion, they looked distinct on each.

Lu Yixue’s cool, glamorous aura gave a distant vibe; the soft pink tempered it slightly, making her seem more poised and reserved.

Pei Shijin’s gentle temperament gained extra vibrancy from the sky blue, opening her up like green willows swaying in spring breeze.

On little Mingzhu, it was pure cuteness overload, lively and playful.

This was little Mingzhu’s first sports day, so Pei Shijin saw Lu Yixue in sportswear for the first time.

She couldn’t get enough—the words failed to capture her love for sporty Lu Yixue, like a fairy with a touch of human warmth.

Though it was a crowded event, with kids around, Lu Yixue didn’t apply much pheromone blocker.

Only up close could one catch her faint scent.

Pei Shijin drove, with Lu Yixue and her daughter in the back. She stole glances via the rearview mirror, her heart full of happiness.

At the kindergarten parking lot, as the family of three stepped out, they drew admiring gazes from parents and kids—like a beautiful painting come to life.

Pei Shijin smiled and nodded at the staring parents, then went to the trunk, pulling out a suitcase full of sports day supplies she had prepared.

Lu Yixue and Lu Mingzhu each had backpacks with their own stuff, just not as much as Pei Shijin’s.

“We need to sign in at the classroom first.” Pei Shijin remembered the schedule.

“Let’s go, go!” Lu Mingzhu shook her head excitedly, grabbing a hand from each as they headed to the classroom.

“Axue! You guys are so early!” A voice called from behind after a few steps.

The three turned to see Bai Mingsong running over, towing a little girl.

“This is my niece. Her parents couldn’t make it, so I’m helping out.” Bai Mingsong panted lightly as she explained. “She’s Bai Nuannuan. Nuannuan, say hi to the aunties.”

“Hello, aunties.” Bai Nuannuan blinked rapidly, twisting the hem of her clothes.

“Hello, little one.” Pei Shijin smiled.

“Mingzhu, this is the auntie who gave you the gift—Bai Mingsong,” Lu Yixue introduced to Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Mingzhu had been staring at Bai Nuannuan but looked up at the voice, giving a polite smile. “Hello, Auntie Bai~ Thank you, Auntie~”

“Hello, little Mingzhu. Do you like Auntie’s gift? I designed and made it myself.”

Though phrased as a question, Bai Mingsong was confident—Lu Mingzhu would love it.

She had researched preferences thoroughly, incorporating sparkles, butterflies, and oversized hair clips.

“Um, thanks for the thought, Auntie. Mingzhu hasn’t liked butterflies lately, but since you’re Mommy’s friend, Mingzhu definitely likes the gift from Auntie.” Lu Mingzhu’s smile stayed politely curved—truth was, she didn’t like it, but for Mommy’s sake.

A little adult, testing the waters of social graces.

Bai Mingsong’s smile froze. Ha, kids’ tastes changed that fast?

“Hahaha, next time Auntie will get something little Mingzhu likes.” Bai Mingsong forced a laugh, unaware of how awkward it looked.

“Nuannuan is in Class 2. What class are you in, Mingzhu?” Bai Mingsong quickly changed topics.

“Auntie, I’m in Class 2.”

The five walked to the building together, with Bai Mingsong asking and Lu Mingzhu answering.

“So your classroom is the one Nuannuan was in last year. Quite the fate.”

“Yeah, super fateful.”

“Later, Auntie will bring Nuannuan to your class tent to play. I brought tons of snacks.”

The parking lot wasn’t far from the building. Bai Mingsong hadn’t asked much before reaching Class 2-Middle, so she said goodbye to Pei Shijin’s family.

The trio continued upward. Pei Shijin asked, “Little Mingzhu, do you know that Nuannuan?”

“Yeah,” Lu Mingzhu pouted. “Last year, right after starting school, she said my chair was hers and tried to take it.”

It happened at the start of last year. Little Mingzhu had hung limited-edition dolls on her chair, which Bai Nuannuan spotted and wanted.

She claimed she’d sat there a year, so it should be hers now.

Little Mingzhu defended her chair fiercely and won with the teacher’s help.

Lu Yixue had been on a business trip, Pei Shijin ill—Gao Ye’an handled it.

The couple only heard of her “heroic exploits” days later from Lu Mingzhu.

“Mommy, I don’t want to like Auntie Bai!” Lu Mingzhu held grudges, guilt by association.

Pei Shijin’s eyes flashed with a hint of amusement. Bai Mingsong’s ploy to win over Little Mingzhu was doomed to fail.

“Good, then we’ll treat her like air.” Compared to a childhood friend she hadn’t seen in eight or nine years, Lu Yixue naturally cared more about her own daughter.

“Mommy, is Auntie Bai your good friend?” Mommy’s decisiveness prompted Lu Mingzhu to reflect a little.

If, if… if Mommy and Auntie Bai were really close, she wouldn’t have minded puffing out her belly to play the prime minister.

“Not really. We just grew up together, so there’s some affection there. Of course, it’s far less than for my precious Mingzhu.” Lu Yixue pinched Little Mingzhu’s braid. “No matter what, Mommy will always stand on Little Mingzhu’s side.”

“Yay!” Lu Mingzhu bounced once. “I’ll always stand by Mommy and Mama too~”

Pei Shijin also pinched Little Mingzhu’s braid. “Mingzhu, just protect Mommy.”

This was the first time her mood felt so pleasant upon hearing the three words “Bai Mingsong.”

Lu Yixue shot Pei Shijin a sidelong glance but said nothing about her words.

Only Lu Mingzhu insisted that both Mommy and Mama were her treasures!

Pei Shijin’s smile refused to fade from the corners of her mouth. She thanked the heavens for giving her and Lu Yixue such a cute daughter.