Chapter 18: Her Lover, the Deceiver

Logically speaking, an Omega could only release pheromones that attract Alphas after reaching adulthood. Yet Zhen Yan felt that, right now, Jia Hua didn’t need pheromones at all—she had already made her weak in the knees.

So this was how sweet a female Omega tasted. A single kiss was enough to captivate her heart and soul.

“Old Jia! What are you doing, sneaking around? Why don’t you come in?”

A hearty voice came from Old Street. The content of the words made both people standing on the stairs—one up, one down—freeze. They simultaneously turned to look at the stairwell entrance.

They saw Jia Hui outside, laughing awkwardly with someone: “Oh, I just suddenly had a stomachache, so I leaned against the wall to rest a bit. It’s fine now.”

Jia Hui turned around and saw four eyes staring at her from within the stairwell. She quickly put on a warm, friendly smile: “Oh my, you two are home from school! Yanyan, how about coming over to our place for dinner tonight? Auntie Jia will personally cook. You’re in for a treat!”

Zhen Yan glanced at Jia Hua on the stairs and slowly shook her head: “Sorry, Auntie Jia, my grandma made dinner at home for me. I’d better go home and eat.”

“Ah, is that so? Well then, tomorrow is both your birthdays. Once you’ve differentiated, bring your grandma to our place in the evening. We’ll celebrate both your birthdays together. No refusing now.”

Jia Hui had put it that way. Besides, Jia Hui would be her mother-in-law in the future. As the prospective son-in-law, she naturally had to make a good impression.

Zhen Yan obediently nodded: “Alright, thank you, Auntie Jia.”

“Good, good, good, what a good child…” Jia Hui’s gaze swept between Jia Hua and Zhen Yan. “Then I’ll head up first. You two keep chatting…”

Jia Hui, carrying a bottle of soy sauce, briskly ran up the stairs, passing Zhen Yan and Jia Hua, and disappeared before their eyes.

The two standing in the stairwell, one above and one below, looked at each other.

Zhen Yan had already forgotten how she got home. She entered the house in a daze and only snapped back to reality when she heard her grandma calling.

“Yanyan, you’re home! Why are you back so late today? Go wash your hands. Grandma made all your favorite dishes. Oh my, you silly child, what are you standing at the door grinning about!”

“Grandma.” Zhen Yan quickly changed her shoes, smiling as she walked towards Grandma Zhen, and then opened her arms wide to hug her tightly.

“What’s up, so happy today?” Grandma Zhen smiled kindly, patting Zhen Yan’s arm.

“Grandma, Jia Hua is my girlfriend now…” Zhen Yan felt very happy. Although she hadn’t had her mothers since she was little, she had her grandma, and now she had a girlfriend too.

“Really? That’s wonderful! Tomorrow evening, invite Huahua over for dinner, and call her mothers too. I’ll celebrate both your birthdays here at home!” Grandma Zhen clapped her hands joyfully, her spirits visibly lifted, looking much more energetic.

“No can do.” Seeing Grandma Zhen’s stunned expression, Zhen Yan smiled and shook her head. “Auntie Jia just asked us to go to their place for dinner tomorrow. I already said yes.”

Grandma Zhen laughed, looking at Zhen Yan, and gave her a firm pat: “You scared me to death! You’ve really picked up some bad habits…”

In stark contrast was the serious atmosphere at the Jia household.

Song Qiaoyi sat on the sofa, looking sternly at Jia Hua, who stood before her: “Besides kissing you, did Zhen Yan do anything else to you?”

Even though everyone knew they were a couple, as the Omega’s parent, necessary questioning had to be done.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out Jia Hui had blabbed. Jia Hua glanced at Jia Hui, who was also standing, and shook her head: “I kissed her. Don’t even mention doing anything else. One kiss left her stunned; she didn’t even dare move.”

Jia Hua’s words silenced both mothers.

Alright, they saw it now. In terms of the relationship dynamic of this young couple, their daughter was the more assertive one. She wouldn’t be taken advantage of.

“Can we eat now? I’m hungry. I’m supposed to differentiate tonight. What if it’s really painful? Being hungry means I won’t have the energy to differentiate later.” Jia Hua turned her head, looking longingly at the food on the dining table.

Song Qiaoyi looked at Jia Hua disdainfully and waved her hand. Jia Hua immediately scurried to the kitchen.

Jia Hui followed behind, saying: “You don’t need to worry. Your mom and I both have D-rank mental power. You’re ninety-nine point nine nine nine percent going to be D too. Go to sleep, wake up, get a shot, done. You won’t need any strength for that.”

Jia Hua turned her head at this and gave Jia Hui a smile: “Thank you so much for making it so easy for me.”

Telling her daughter directly that she could only differentiate into the Omega with the lowest mental power rank—she was definitely her biological mother.

Jia Hui waved her hand: “What do you have to fear with Zhen Yan around? Your future kids together will be super outstanding.”

Jia Hua: “…”

In the evening, after her shower, Jia Hua sat on the sofa watching TV. Song Qiaoyi came out of the master bedroom, holding a small red box. Seeing Jia Hua in the living room, she shot her a sidelong glance: “What time is it? Still watching TV? Midnight is almost here—you’re about to come of age and differentiate. Hurry up and go get ready!”

With that, she turned off the TV and pulled Jia Hua back to Jia Hua’s room, entering as well.

A baffled Jia Hua was pushed by Song Qiaoyi onto the large pink bed.

Song Qiaoyi looked Jia Hua up and down, frowning: “Have your pajamas shrunk this much? I’ll transfer you some money later. Go buy yourself a new set.”

Jia Hua looked down. The cute pink bunny onesie had sleeves and pant legs that were indeed too short. “They really are too short.”

“Forget that. Where are the things you prepared for differentiation? Show them to me,” Song Qiaoyi said.

So that’s what this was about. She and Zhen Yan had bought everything together at the pharmacy yesterday.

Jia Hua got up and took a small white box from her nightstand drawer. Inside were two vials—one labeled Alpha Inhibitor and the other labeled Omega Inhibitor, both odorless and clear.

These were essentials for adult differentiation in the ABO world. Logically, Alphas only needed Alpha Inhibitors, Omegas only needed Omega Inhibitors, and Betas didn’t need to buy any. But the law mandated that Alphas, Betas, and Omegas all have such a small kit, just in case of unexpected differentiation—though the probability was minuscule.

This minuscule probability was: an Alpha or Omega turning into a Beta, or a Beta turning into an Alpha or Omega. It was almost impossible for a direct change between Alpha and Omega. There had been a few such cases in history, but because their differentiation ranks were all low, they were just considered anomalies.

Song Qiaoyi glanced at the small kit and asked again: “Where’s the nape patch?”

Jia Hua froze for a moment, suddenly remembering. In this world, after adult differentiation, male and female Omegas would have a small portion at the back of their neck turn into a red gland. That spot was extremely fragile. Without careful protection, it could easily trigger certain Omega medical conditions. So adult Omegas all stuck a nape patch over the gland on their nape to protect it.

Seeing Jia Hua’s completely blank expression, Song Qiaoyi knew her daughter hadn’t prepared one. She sighed, opened the red box—inside were numerous nape patches, each with a different shape and pattern.

Song Qiaoyi: “I’m giving you one. Pick one yourself.”

Jia Hua: “…”

She finally chose a plain, square, skin-toned patch. After listening to a lecture of Song Qiaoyi’s wisdom, she finally saw her out the door.

Closing the door, walking to the bed, looking at the inhibitors and nape patch on it, Jia Hua shook her head.

How did it come to this? Even she was starting to feel a bit nervous.

Her phone on the desk lit up. Jia Hua walked over and picked it up. It was Zhen Yan.

【Zhen Yan: It’s almost midnight. Are you ready?】

Seeing this, the corner of Jia Hua’s mouth curled up. She put the inhibitor kit and nape patch from the bed onto the nightstand. She lay down under the covers, leaning against the headboard to reply to her girlfriend’s message.

【Jia Hua: No, I’m scared. Do you want to come over and keep me company?】

【Zhen Yan: …You must be joking.】

Zhen Yan was definitely blushing over there.

Jia Hua couldn’t help but smile. If an Alpha and an Omega were in the same room during differentiation, that would probably lead to a different kind of event. With some luck, a baby could be born ten months later.

They chatted casually. Zhen Yan suddenly sent her a message: 【Jia Hua, happy birthday!】

Jia Hua looked at the time on her phone. Exactly midnight of the next day.

Jia Hua’s lips curved upwards. She replied with: 【Happy birthday to you too!】

Just as Jia Hua sent it, the next second, she saw a line of text come from Zhen Yan.

【Zhen Yan: My body is getting a bit hot. I think I’m about to differentiate. We’ll talk tomorrow. Good night.】

【Jia Hua: Okay, good night. See you tomorrow.】

Looking at the chat interface that no longer showed replies, Jia Hua reached out and touched her own forehead. Not only was it not hot, it was somewhat cool. She also kept feeling a draft. Turning her head, she saw the window had been left open.

She flipped out of bed and closed the window. Glancing at her silent phone, Jia Hua placed it on the nightstand. Throwing the covers over her head, curling up her body, she quickly fell asleep.

While Jia Hua slept soundly, wrapped in blankets, Zhen Yan was burning up all over, curled against the wall, desperately pressing herself against the cool floor, trying to find some relief. Her clothes were already soaked through. Her features were almost distorted.

The books said: the stronger the reaction during differentiation, the higher the mental power rank.

Zhen Yan felt the searing burn within her body. She bit her lower lip fiercely, forcing herself to stay conscious.

As long as she endured it, her rank would definitely reach B! She would definitely get into the Imperial Fourth Military Academy! She definitely would!

Outside, the autumn wind rustled. In the pitch-black night, it swirled up debris from the ground, carrying it off into the distance.

After who knows how long, having endured endless searing, Zhen Yan, enduring the soreness throughout her body, struggled against the mirror, trying to surge the continuously expanding pheromones within her towards her canine teeth. The canine teeth didn’t budge.

At the same time, the back of her neck burned with extreme, searing pain, almost as if it would burn right through. The grape-flavored Omega pheromones seeped out bit by bit amidst her struggle.

Meanwhile, Jia Hua, also coming of age and due to differentiate, was still sleeping, though her brows were tightly furrowed, her sleep somewhat restless. In her dream, Jia Hua was acting like a fool, jumping into a sea of fire. Instantly swallowed by the raging flames, she jolted awake with a glare.

“Tsk, someone that stupid definitely isn’t me.” Jia Hua reached out and wiped her forehead, discovering the temperature was scaldingly hot—so hot that Jia Hua instantly pulled her hand back.

“Ah…”

Huh? Am I differentiating?

Realizing this, Jia Hua immediately sat up, turned on the bedroom light, picked up the mirror under her pillow, and looked at her face. Very red. She was differentiating.

She reached out to touch the back of her neck. It was completely smooth, no so-called gland.

Jia Hua frowned. She vigorously scratched at the back of her neck. Through the mirror, she could see that her nape was clean, smooth, fair, and unblemished—nothing there.

Jia Hua felt something was definitely off. She stared silently at the mirror, then suddenly bared her teeth, exerting force towards her canine teeth. A profoundly mysterious sensation instantly arose in her body, as if an endless stream of energy was surging towards her canine teeth. Under Jia Hua’s gaze, her canines instantly lengthened and sharpened.

In that instant, mango-flavored Alpha pheromones spilled from Jia Hua’s body, sweeping through the small bedroom.

“Damn, I became a female Alpha?” Jia Hua’s pupils dilated with shock. Her hands tightly gripped the mirror’s surface, the veins on the back of her hands bulging.

She’d just started dating Zhen Yan, and now she’d differentiated into a female Alpha…

With a cold expression, Jia Hua injected herself with a dose of Omega Inhibitor. Her body quickly reacted with rejection, making her want to vomit, retch, and feel dizzy. Only after injecting an Alpha Inhibitor did she feel significantly better.

Lying on the bed, Jia Hua typed to Zhen Yan: 【Zhen Yan, I differentiated into a female Alpha. Would you consider an AA relationship… as long as you’re willing, I can be on the bottom. 】

She hesitated for a long time over the send button. Zhen Yan’s resolute words from that night—”I like female Omegas”—kept looping in her mind. Finally, Jia Hua’s hand trembled, and she deleted everything she had typed.

This ABO world was fcking playing with her!

Jia Hua touched her sharp canines and her smooth nape, remaining silent for a very, very long time.

Suddenly, Jia Hua threw off the covers, picked up a pair of sharp scissors, and pricked the pad of her right index finger. Her eyes tightly shut, she focused and drew a blood talisman.

She was going to defy fate and change her destiny. She didn’t want to break up with Zhen Yan just like that.

This was her first free relationship. It couldn’t be over before even lasting through one night!