After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 24.2 (1)

And before Ning Xuan could utter a single word, the line went dead.

She stared at her phone—she hadn’t managed to get even one word out.

The two people still eating across from her hardly noticed she’d taken a call.

Maybe it was the influence of her susceptibility period, but looking at her screen, Ning Xuan felt a wave of irritation—yet she didn’t even have the strength to lash out.

Su Manyun finally noticed her expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”

At that moment, Ning Xuan’s whole face spelled out: lonely, small, helpless.
“It’s nothing, Sister Yun. I just, I feel like my susceptibility period is coming. I’m a little scared being at home.”

More accurately—being with Yu Yazhi scared her.

Meanwhile, Yu Yazhi had already ended the call. She lowered her head, staring at the stack of files on her desk, feeling inexplicably stifled.

Her father had called, demanding she return to the Yu family estate for dinner—and to bring Ning Xuan along. Likely because of that foolish stunt Yu Jiayan pulled last time.

But that wasn’t even unusual. Yu Jiayan had made plenty of blunders before, and yet her father kept turning a blind eye.

How could he seriously consider entrusting the company to someone like that?

Her mood grew restless.

Suppressing the irritation, she wrapped up her remaining tasks quickly. A glance at her watch—past noon already.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knuckles against wood broke her thoughts.

She pressed a hand to her temple. “Come in.”

Meng Xi entered. “President Yu, what would you like for lunch today?”

Yu Yazhi shook her head, eyes lowered. “None. I have to head out later. I’ll send the rest of the work to your inbox. It’s about lunchtime—go eat, don’t worry about me.”

Meng Xi nodded but couldn’t help asking, “President Yu, what do you have this afternoon?”

Realizing the question might sound inappropriate, she hurried to explain:
“Oh, I just meant—I don’t recall seeing any outing on your schedule. Is it a personal matter? If you need me to help with anything, just say the word.”

Yu Yazhi was hitting “send” on an email and didn’t notice the hesitant tone in her voice. She answered offhandedly, “No, nothing you can help with.”

With that, she shut down her computer, picked up her bag from the coat rack, and stood.

Hearing “nothing you can help with,” Meng Xi felt a small pang of disappointment. Still, seeing the shadow of worry between Yu Yazhi’s brows, she wisely held back from prying further.

That afternoon, Yu Yazhi had a quick lunch on her own, then went straight to the mall to pick out gifts.

After marriage, she had moved out of the Yu family estate.

Whenever she returned, she would always bring gifts for her father and stepmother—her way of showing filial respect.

After shopping, she drove back to the villa to change clothes.

On the way, she remembered she hadn’t told Ning Xuan the exact time for the dinner. She almost dialed again, but then thought better of it.

Tch. That woman only has one variety show lately—and it’s a weekly recording, barely demanding. What else could she possibly be busy with? Especially with a trip back to the family estate? She’s probably eager for it. She must’ve started preparing already.

With that thought, she pressed down on the accelerator.

Half an hour later, Yu Yazhi drove into the villa.

Hearing the sound of the car, Aunt Wu came out with a warm smile. “Miss, you’re home early today. What a coincidence—Miss Ning is home too.”

Yu Yazhi’s lips tightened. As expected. And she claims she secures film resources on her own? Please—only in her dreams.

“Did you go shopping, Miss?”

Noticing the paper bags in Yu Yazhi’s hand, Aunt Wu reached out instinctively. “Here, let me take those.”

Yu Yazhi handed her the gifts, stepped inside, slipped off her heels, and changed into comfortable flats. As she walked in, she said, “No need to prepare dinner tonight. Ning Xuan and I will be eating at the family estate.”

“Understood.”

Aunt Wu replied automatically, then suddenly remembered something. “Oh, Miss—just now when Miss Ning came back, she didn’t look too well. Probably overtired. I was just about to check on her. Maybe you should go instead?”

Yu Yazhi paused, suspicion flickering across her face. Not well? Last night she was bounding around like a wild rabbit. And now she’s suddenly unwell?

Could it be, she heard about the family dinner, thought I needed something from her, and is faking it to drive up her value?

Still, she went upstairs.

Annoying or not, she couldn’t risk being stood up.

In the bedroom, Ning Xuan had just finished a cold shower and lay sprawled on the bed.

Her lilac silk slip had slid loosely off her shoulders, straps resting against her delicate collarbones, making her look both alluring and languid.

Her damp hair clung to her skin, droplets clinging to the strands like crystal teardrops.

Beautiful, without even realizing it, she stared up at the white ceiling, trying to meditate and calm the restless fire in her chest.

Just as she closed her eyes,

Knock, knock.

The sound echoed from the door.

She frowned. “Who is it?”

“It’s me. Open up.”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Recognizing Yu Yazhi’s voice, Ning Xuan blinked in confusion. Why is this workaholic home so early today?

As she hesitated, she swung her legs off the bed to answer.

Wait.

Taking a shower in the middle of the day, will she think I was up to something shady?

The thought jolted Ning Xuan like an electric shock. She shot upright, clutching the blanket to her chest. Facing the door, she called warily, “What’s the urgent business?”

Outside, Yu Yazhi’s suspicion deepened. What on earth is this woman playing at?

She had no patience for games. Her palm hit the door. “Open it.”

The words weren’t loud—but carried an undeniable authority.

Impossible to refuse.

“Hold on.”

After stalling a moment, Ning Xuan finally opened the door.

Yu Yazhi’s eyes immediately narrowed at the sight of her.

Wet hair. Damp skin. Wearing a navy-blue T-shirt dress, cheeks flushed from the shower, looking fresh and ripe like a peach.

Her wide, glistening eyes looked straight at Yu Yazhi, sincere and almost pleading.

“I didn’t do anything bad. I wasn’t fooling around.”

Yu Yazhi’s frown deepened.

“Do you realize you’ve just confessed without being accused?”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Right, she was being stupid.

She sniffled, just about to explain, when a faint trace of sweet chocolate-scented pheromones drifted into her nose.

Not strong.

Barely there.

But enough to hit her like a wave.

Biting her lip, Ning Xuan felt the back of her neck burn as heat surged chaotically through her veins.

Damn it. Yu Yazhi was still in heat. Even with suppressants, a faint trickle of pheromones still leaked out. And Ning Xuan—who just happened to be in her susceptibility period—if the two of them collided like this, it would be a complete disaster.

“Anyway, I’m fine. Just hot. Really hot.”

Beads of sweat rolled down her flushed face.

Yu Yazhi noticed the unnatural redness on her cheeks and dropped the earlier line of questioning. She stepped closer instead. “What’s wrong with you?”

Ning Xuan wanted to tell the truth, but with Yu Yazhi leaning in so near—even if the scent was faint—her whole body itched to respond.

Bang!

Fearing she might lose control and pounce on Yu Yazhi, she slammed the door shut.

The crash was so loud it made her body tremble. She’d really outdone herself this time—actually daring to slam a door in Yu Yazhi’s face.

Yu Yazhi froze, staring at the abruptly closed door. Her expression darkened. “Ning Xuan, do you even realize what you’re doing?”

She dared to slam the door at her?

Unbelievable.

Water thundered from the showerhead.

Cold streams soaked Ning Xuan, cooling the fever enough for her to finally call out, “I’ll explain later.”

Yu Yazhi: “…”

You think I even want to hear your explanation?

She swallowed back the words, fists tightening in anger, then turned and walked back to her bedroom without knocking again.

After bathing, Ning Xuan dried her hair, changed clothes, applied suppressant patches, and even took another dose of her doctor’s medicine. Only once she was certain she was “battle-ready” did she knock on Yu Yazhi’s door.

Knock, knock.

“It’s me, Ning Xuan. I want to explain.”

Yu Yazhi was reading. The moment she heard her voice, she put on her headphones and turned the music up to max.

Explain?

Ha. She didn’t want to hear a word of it.

Not knowing, Ning Xuan took Yu Yazhi’s silence as anger. So she went on talking anyway: “I didn’t mean to slam the door. It’s just, my susceptibility period started, and your pheromones really affect me. I was afraid I’d lose control and—please, Yazhi, you have to believe me.”

Silence.

No reply came.