After Differentiation, My Arch-nemesis Thinks I’m Fragrant - Chapter 25

The farce on the playground finally came to an end with the arrival of the Dean.

“What do you think you’re doing! Move! All of you, follow me to the office. To be so lawless in school—do you have no respect for the school rules?”

The stern-faced Dean was clearly exasperated by the scene before him, especially upon seeing Shu Youzhan, a member of the privileged class, bullying ordinary students in such a manner. Without even stopping to ask questions, the Dean demanded they all report to the grade-level office.

Pei Yi wasn’t originally part of the group called in for a lecture, but out of concern for her friend, she quietly followed along.

With a look of obvious regret in her eyes, Shu Youzhan retracted the pen in her hand and slowly tucked it into her trouser pocket. She followed the group at an unhurried pace, not looking at all like someone who had been caught after causing trouble and was being taken to the teacher’s office.

After taking a couple of steps, she remembered Pei Yi’s intention to buy biscuits. She turned back and scanned the crowd of onlookers. When she spotted Pei Yi, she made a gesture signaling that she didn’t need to follow.

Grade Level Dean’s Office

The dark tones of the bookshelves and desks formed a sharp contrast with the snow-white walls, highlighting the owner’s personality: rigid and serious.

“Tell me, what happened here?”

Wearing a plain blue shirt paired with a bright red tie, the middle-aged man walked toward his seat. He casually moved a porcelain cup filled with tea leaves toward the corner of the desk, casting a sharp gaze toward the group.

Shu Youzhan was in no hurry to speak, but Shu Hua spoke up: “It’s a misunderstanding… Teacher, we were just passing by, wanting to go to the canteen to buy some things. Then, Shu Youzhan suddenly attacked us without a word. We were all startled. She’s always like this at home, using her power to bully others—”

The Dean’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected the conversation to veer into complicated internal family matters. He had no desire to pry into the secrets of these great families and immediately cleared his throat as a warning.

On the contrary, a subtle hum came from the corner. It sounded somewhat like amusement and somewhat like disdain.

Shu Hua subconsciously looked over and saw Shu Youzhan standing by the wall, one hand in her pocket, her brown eyes slightly curved. Because the room was well-lit, a patch of golden sunlight rested at her feet. When those pale-colored eyes looked at someone like that, they always carried a sense of indifference and mockery.

“Using my power to bully others? If I really did that, do you think you’d still be standing here talking to me in one piece?”

For no reason, Shu Hua felt suppressed by her aura, which made him feel annoyed. “What do you mean?”

Shu Youzhan remained unhurried: “I mean I’m reminding you to stick to the facts and be mindful of the occasion. Don’t act like a bitter loser everywhere you go, as if you’re afraid people won’t know that even though you differentiated into an Alpha, you can’t get the inheritance rights.”

Shu Hua: “!”

Seeing that he was about to be provoked by a few sentences, Shu Youzhan wasn’t worried at all. She even seemed somewhat eager, her eyes shining brighter under the sunlight beside her. “What, didn’t you get enough of a beating when you came to my house last time?”

Seeing Shu Youzhan’s mouth firing off like it was blessed by the gods, the Dean felt a headache coming on. He had no interest in listening to her personal vendetta with Shu Hua. He slammed his hand on the desk to interrupt the explosive situation.

“Enough! Take your personal grudges home to settle. Tell me exactly what happened today! Or do I need to call your families and ask them in detail?”

“Dean, today’s matter is simple. Some Alphas just love using underhanded tricks, using their pheromones to oppress Omegas. I felt that as a classmate, it was necessary for me to correct their bad habits.”

Dean: “…”

He processed the logic and asked Shu Youzhan, “Which Omega near you was bullied by them?”

Shu Youzhan pointed to herself sincerely: “Me…”

Dean: “…”

Because he had been busy listening to the current affairs channel this morning, he had missed the school’s biggest piece of gossip. Only now did he realize that Shu Youzhan had actually differentiated into an O… and after becoming an O, she had beaten up a senior Alpha?

And it seemed the other party had used dirty tricks first?

His worldview was momentarily shaken. He couldn’t help but turn to look at the male student who had been beaten to his knees by Shu Youzhan. This person hadn’t been able to straighten his back since they arrived; it was unclear if he needed to go to the hospital for a check-up.

“Student, is that how it happened?”

The boy caught the Dean’s gaze and felt Shu Hua looking at him vaguely. Just as he was about to speak, Shu Youzhan’s smiling voice came: “Think carefully. If the environment of this office isn’t conducive to remembering the story, we can go to the police station to think it over, right?”

The senior student: “…”

At this moment, he deeply understood that wealthy family feuds were not something ordinary people should get involved in. He felt as if the word “Cannon Fodder” was written in large letters on his forehead. Hearing Shu Youzhan’s threat and sensing Shu Hua’s increasingly intense gaze, his knees went weak. He slumped to the floor, wailing, “My stomach hurts so much! Dean! My stomach hurts too much!”

The bell for the first period rang belatedly.

Shu Youzhan walked from the Dean’s office toward the classroom of Class 1, Grade 1. She crossed the long corridor and arrived just as the second official bell rang.

Pei Yi frequently threw questioning glances her way. Shu Youzhan returned a “don’t worry” look and walked to the back row to pull out her chair. She sat down with a creak, not even bothering to take out the books for this lesson.

Zhao Qinglan glanced at her and whispered a reminder: “The next period is physical training. All three grades will have it together.”

Shu Youzhan propped her chin on one hand and let out a lazy “Hmm?”

Only after the sound left her lips did she react. Physical training was meant to build the students’ physiques. It was a long session held once a month—called a class, but actually a test. There were different standards for Alpha, Beta, and Omega boys and girls. During this class, students could choose the type of test they were most interested in. Those with excellent results would receive extra points for the physical education portion of the college entrance exam.

This had always been a prime opportunity for outstanding Alphas to showcase their abilities, attract the opposite sex, and win special favor. Military academies, in particular, valued these test scores.

However…

Zhao Qinglan’s words sounded like an implication that if she felt beating someone up just now violated school rules, she could “challenge” that senior again openly during physical training.

It was nothing less than seeking public revenge for a private grudge.

Shu Youzhan’s mood inexplicably brightened because of those words. Raising her chin, she leaned over, her shoulder bumping into Zhao Qinglan’s. Her voice was very low: “You believe in me that much?”

Wasn’t she afraid that instead of beating someone, she would be the one getting beaten?

A smile played on Zhao Qinglan’s lips. She caught the scent of water lily—disguised, yet still faintly drifting into her perception. She answered softly, “Of course. You are the person I’ve acknowledged.”

You are the only opponent I recognize, and the only person I want to obtain.

Shu Youzhan’s good mood lasted throughout the lesson.

When the bell rang to end class, the excitement level of the students in the class dropped significantly. Fragmented discussions drifted from the front row: “Damn, why is it physical training again next period?!”

“I chose long-distance running at the start of the term. Remembering that now, I’ve lost my appetite for breakfast. I’m so afraid of eating too much and throwing up while running.”

“Heavens, I’m just an ordinary Beta. I don’t want to join the army, and I don’t want to do manual labor. Why is there a devilish thing like physical training?”

“Heh, the Omegas haven’t even spoken yet. May I ask what an O needs such good physical strength for?”

“To do… the things they love to do?”

“Stop! This isn’t the bus to the kindergarten!”

The sounds of laughter and joking served as an outlet for the students’ frustrations. While a regular PE class felt like a break, physical training was pure torture; even some Alphas with weaker constitutions wanted to cry for their parents.

Shu Youzhan sat in her seat, in no hurry to head toward the main playground. She just tapped her fingers on the desk rhythmically, lost in thought.

Sun Yue and Sun Jue, the sisters, were accustomed to waiting for Zhao Qinglan outside the classroom. Seeing the person beside her about to get up and leave, Shu Youzhan suddenly reached out and pressed down on her shoulder. Using that force to sit back in her seat, Zhao Qinglan looked at her sideways. “What is it?”

Brushing back a stray hair that was tickling her face with her left hand, Shu Youzhan consulted her sincerely: “Physical training consumes too much energy. An Alpha’s pheromones would easily spill out, wouldn’t they?”

Zhao Qinglan instantly understood the logic behind her question.

When Alphas exerted power, their pheromone concentration could easily become so high that even suppressant sprays couldn’t cover it. Therefore, Alpha training grounds were usually indoors with powerful air circulation systems. Furthermore, Omegas were usually prohibited from entering because they were easily affected.

To avoid being dragged into a heat cycle by these pheromones, an Omega would need to be marked by a strong pheromone. The more powerful the marking pheromone, the less influence other Alphas’ pheromones would have on that O.

Even if Shu Youzhan hadn’t met many Alphas, she knew that Zhao Qinglan’s pheromones were definitely among the best.

A little scheme arose in her mind again.

Zhao Qinglan saw through it immediately. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back lazily against the chair. Her husky voice, because it was slowed down, carried a leisurely, seductive quality. “Helping you with this… what’s the benefit?”

Shu Youzhan looked toward the front. Ping Hui and his seatmate had already left; there was hardly anyone nearby. She leaned in quickly, her soft voice full of calculating thoughts: “An Omega as pretty and rich as me is willing to let you take a bite—you’re already profiting, okay? And you still want benefits?”

But Zhao Qinglan wasn’t buying it. She made a move to stand up. “Then I’m leaving.”

Shu Youzhan hurriedly reached out to grab the corner of her clothes, pulling the hem of the school uniform taut. “Wait, wait, wait! Fine, fine, benefits it is. What do you want?”

The girl sat by the window, half her body bathed in sunlight. Her silver-white school uniform with gold trim made her look like a little lamb basking in the sun on a meadow.

She blinked her eyes. To others, those eyes looked cold, but Zhao Qinglan liked them exceptionally well, always feeling they were like clean glass that one couldn’t help but want to protect.

Those eyes could reflect the most beautiful scenery, and they could also reflect the deepest desires in a person’s heart.

Zhao Qinglan had only intended to tease her, but now, being watched so expectantly by Shu Youzhan, her throat moved subconsciously. She felt those hidden, unspeakable thoughts buried deep in her heart…

At this moment, they were all about to come bursting out.