Distance Formula - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

It was nine o’clock at night, and a light rain was pattering outside the window. Having just finished a shoot, Su Yanshi sat in the lounge waiting for her final task of the day. Wrapped in a thin blanket, she stared intently at the schedule in her hands. A few strands of blue in her hair added a touch of boldness to her look.

Days of non-stop work were starting to take their toll on her body. Moreover, based on her calendar, her rut was fast approaching.

“Yanshi, are you okay? If you can’t do it, I’ll postpone it. You’ve genuinely been working too hard these past few days,” her manager, Li Zhuonan, asked tentatively, glancing at her. Even with makeup, the dark circles under her eyes were obvious, and her pale face looked nearly lifeless in the dim light. Her beauty, for the moment, felt ephemeral.

Su Yanshi shook her head. She had just won the Best Actress award, and being an Alpha only increased her workload. She was constantly rushing from one engagement to the next. She brushed her hair aside, revealing a pair of pale amber eyes. She shifted her posture, trying her best to ignore her body’s discomfort.

Today’s final task was a collaboration with the up-and-coming artist Baishi, where they would simply answer questions according to a script, and the artist would draw her portrait. The goal was to generate buzz and exposure, setting the stage for her next role while maintaining her current popularity.

After all, Baishi rarely made public appearances.

Li Zhuonan didn’t press further, changing the subject: “The interview starts in half an hour. Try not to be too cold to her. Your notoriously poor attitude toward people has been a big source of black marks.”

He wasn’t wrong, but Su Yanshi simply wasn’t keen on socializing; she was too slow to warm up, which had often been used as an excuse for bad press.

Su Yanshi knew he spoke out of concern for her, and her expression softened considerably. “I know, thank you, Brother Nan.”

Hearing this, Li Zhuonan couldn’t say anything more. Su Yanshi debuted at 16 and was brought up in the industry by him. Now, at 26, she had endured much hardship to become his most reliable asset.

He got up to coordinate with the staff, reminding her as he left: “If you feel unwell, you must tell me!”

Su Yanshi offered a slight smile, indicating she understood.

It wasn’t until she was alone in the lounge that she dropped the smile, looking exhausted. She found her suppressant in her bag—a small vial of deep blue liquid that was fifty percent more effective than regular ones. Su Yanshi couldn’t recall when her rut schedule started to become erratic; a week early or half a month late was common.

She found the syringe, rolled up her sleeve, located a vein, and injected the medicine. Su Yanshi’s expression didn’t change much, though she endured a brief moment of pain afterwards. She leaned back on the sofa, silently reviewing all the procedures and contingency plans.

She couldn’t afford any more mistakes.

Downstairs, Li Zhuonan had already met Baishi. The artist was dressed very casually, seemingly in her everyday attire: a loose shirt paired with trousers, and shoulder-length hair casually tousled. He had heard the rumors about this Beta artist, but meeting her today still left him surprised.

Baishi’s features were perfectly balanced. Her eyes were the quintessential peach-blossom shape, her nose bridge was high, her upper lip was thin, and her defined jawline gave her a sharp edge. Yet, when she looked at someone, her deep-sea blue pupils, like they were holding boundless affection, possessed a powerful pull. Even Li Zhuonan was stunned for a moment.

Baishi waved a hand and teased, “What is it? Is there something wrong with me?”

Li Zhuonan immediately snapped out of it, chuckling ingratiatingly: “Not at all. Yanshi is ready. The process should take less than half an hour.”

“I’m fine with whatever. It’s part of my job. We can start as soon as we go up.”

Baishi shrugged carelessly. She followed Li Zhuonan to the door of a lounge. The camera was already rolling, filming a segment that would be broadcast as bonus footage. Having prepared beforehand, she smiled and pushed the door open.

The first thing she saw was Su Yanshi sitting on the sofa. Baishi had been following her for a long time. She had achieved great success at a young age, and her appearance was undeniably striking. She was dressed very casually in a light gray hoodie and wide-leg pants, her white sneakers casually crossed. Even her expression of surprise seemed perfectly poised.

She subtly raised an eyebrow, observing Su Yanshi with keen interest. She couldn’t deny that the Alpha’s appearance was entirely to her liking. Her slightly curled hair fell over her shoulders, her eye shape was slender, and a red mole below her right eye made her look particularly captivating. Yet, the advantages of her Alpha gender added a commanding presence.

It was worth it to return this favor for her.

Su Yanshi didn’t pay her much attention. She calmly stood up, despite her head spinning, and forced a polite greeting to Baishi: “I’ve heard so much about you, Artist, and I finally get to meet you today!”

Baishi responded: “Not at all. It’s you, Yanshi, who is truly memorable. You look beautiful today.”

“Thank you.” Su Yanshi replied and sat back down on the sofa.

The cameraman behind them gave an OK sign, and the interview officially began.

There was no host; the conversation between the two was meant to present the information. Su Yanshi primarily guided the talk. With a poised smile, she asked one question after another. Baishi was also cooperative, leaning back in her chair, appearing relaxed during the exchange.

Outside the lens, Li Zhuonan was almost moved to tears. He was already planning what trending topics to buy. Baishi’s rare appearance was a highlight, and the sight of two beautiful women together was even more appealing.

He tightly covered his mouth. Who doesn’t love pretty people!

“So, what do you think about when you’re painting, Artist?”

Halfway through, Su Yanshi was starting to lose her grip. Her vision was blurring. She didn’t know why the suppressant wasn’t working. She clearly realized her rut had arrived. All she could do was desperately pinch herself out of sight to stay conscious. If anything went wrong, she would be fully responsible.

Baishi hummed, then smiled. Her gaze never left Su Yanshi. She also keenly noticed the subtle changes in the Alpha, along with the faint, almost indiscernible scent of strong liquor in the air.

The little Alpha’s pheromone is quite stimulating.

Her tolerance seems pretty good; at least no one else has noticed anything amiss.

She tapped the single ring on her hand rhythmically: “When the inspiration hits, I forget everything else. After I finish painting, I feel a sense of profound disorientation. Conversely, my mind is a jumble, bringing up all sorts of weird and wonderful things. Like right now, I feel like I need to empty my head.”

Baishi turned around, and Li Zhuonan immediately handed her a drawing board and a pen. Su Yanshi was struggling badly and subconsciously avoided the camera: “Is that so? It sounds like focusing on one thing is very enjoyable.”

“It is. Painting satisfies me greatly.” Baishi positioned herself to start drawing but suddenly paused, looking at the cameraman. She offered an apologetic smile, “Could you step out for a moment? I don’t like having too many people around when I draw. I’m so sorry.”

The cameraman and Li Zhuonan exchanged glances. The two sides were at a standstill for a moment, but eventually agreed. They had enough footage; there was no need to argue over this.

Baishi sighed internally: If it weren’t for this face, I wouldn’t bother.

Su Yanshi’s pheromone level was very high. If protective measures weren’t taken, it could seriously affect Alphas and Omegas. Of course, a Beta who could smell pheromones, like herself, was an exception.

The moment the others left the lounge, Su Yanshi lost control. She curled up on the sofa, moaning in pain. Her fingers desperately dug into the side of the sofa, leaving distinct marks. She felt a tearing pain throughout her body, and a strange urge for destruction quietly spread through her heart. The Alpha looked at the floor with bloodshot eyes, trying desperately to suppress herself.

Baishi stood up, ignoring Su Yanshi for a moment. She went straight to the bag beside the Alpha, found a suppressant, and frowned after checking the dosage. She asked, “Can you hear me? Did you take a shot today?”

Su Yanshi’s consciousness hadn’t completely disappeared. Her voice came out shaky: “I took one half an hour ago.”

Baishi clicked her tongue in displeasure and tossed the suppressant back. She walked to Su Yanshi’s side and looked down at her. The Alpha’s hair was damp with sweat, sticking to her face, with a few strands even in her mouth. Her beautiful state made Baishi’s heart itch.

Since she was diagnosed with the ability to smell A/O pheromones as a child, she often participated in aid for such situations. This kind of fragile, sickly look, which was to her liking, was rare. She admired the sight for a moment, then finally crouched down to explain: “You can’t take any more suppressants. The time is too short, and the dosage is too strong. It could be fatal. I’ll call a doctor; you need to go to the hospital right now.”

Hearing the word “hospital,” Su Yanshi instinctively resisted. She suddenly propped herself up and grabbed Baishi’s hand reaching for her phone, her voice trembling: “Don’t… go to the hospital.”

“Oh, then I’ll call your manager.” Baishi quickly gave up and leaned closer to Su Yanshi, trying to gently push her back onto the sofa.

Su Yanshi, in the throes of her rut, suddenly caught a strangely soothing scent. She couldn’t describe it, but it was like a caress touching her spine, making her heart rate unknowingly accelerate. A transparent thread silently hooked her heart. Her mind grew dizzier. Instinct made her grab the source of the scent. A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

Baishi was pulled forward by the grab on her neck and helplessly retorted, “Not the manager either? You’re so demanding! If you die here, I’ll be responsible!”

“You smell so good…” Su Yanshi leaned in and murmured.

“What?”

Baishi didn’t hear clearly. She instinctively tried to pull back but was held tight by the Alpha. Su Yanshi seemed to have completely lost her reason, merely sniffing desperately at the other woman’s neck. She repeated, “You smell so good.”

Hearing this clearly, Baishi’s heart skipped a beat. She disbelief, she grabbed a handful of Su Yanshi’s hair and yanked the Alpha back. The sudden pain brought the Alpha back to her senses briefly. Baishi chuckled and asked, “You can smell me?”

Su Yanshi, half-conscious, nodded, but quickly succumbed again, wrapping her arms around Baishi. Their center of gravity was unstable, and they both tumbled to the floor.

Baishi gasped in pain, suddenly recalling something she’d heard long ago: “The person who can alleviate your condition is likely to be able to smell your pheromones. The condition of Beta gland development is too rare. Good luck.”

Good luck—

Baishi desperately pushed back against Su Yanshi, who was on top of her. She grabbed the Alpha’s face and whispered, “Do you know what you’re doing? I could sue you for an Alpha biting a Beta if I had evidence! Hey, Su Yanshi, can you hear me?”

The Alpha was completely unresponsive, only sobbing softly. The overwhelming attraction was nearly splitting Su Yanshi’s head apart. She groaned miserably in discomfort.

Baishi licked her dry lips, suddenly feeling that she wasn’t necessarily losing out. She loved Su Yanshi’s appearance. If the Alpha could truly cure her condition, it wouldn’t be a bad thing, and it gave her a legitimate opportunity.

The moment the Beta’s resistance lessened, her waist was lifted up, and her neck was forcefully exposed. The Alpha’s canine teeth bit hard into her posterior neck. The stabbing pain as the skin broke made Baishi curl her legs and frown, forced to endure the act.

In the confined space, the liquor pheromone quickly erupted, then tightly wrapped itself around the Beta. The Beta’s slender, pale fingers quietly tightened around her art pen.

Baishi had only one thought: When Su Yanshi comes to her senses, I’m going to settle this score properly. A Beta couldn’t be marked, and the Alpha’s continuous injection of pheromones was making her feel incredibly unwell.

She cursed softly. After two more minutes, Su Yanshi finally let go, looking up blankly and meeting the expressionless gaze of Baishi lying beneath her.

“Clear-headed now?”

Su Yanshi scrambled to her feet. She leaned against the sofa, replaying the events in disbelief. She had actually reacted to a Beta. Not only reacted, but she had bitten her, leaving the Beta’s neck bloody. And this was only their first meeting!

Oh my god.

She painfully covered her face, completely unwilling to face reality. In the end, she only choked out: “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Baishi got up from the floor, her legs unsteady, causing her to sway. The Alpha was the one acting distraught before she had even cried. She reached up and touched the back of her neck. Her fingertips were covered in blood. The stinging pain was impossible to ignore.

She bit me so hard. Is she part dog?

Baishi’s reaction wasn’t as extreme. She found a tissue to wipe the blood and the sweat from her forehead. Seeing Su Yanshi still reeling, she managed a silent laugh. It’s fine. When I get back, I’ll test whether she has any effect on my condition. If she did, an undeniable look of satisfaction crossed Baishi’s eyes.

Then Su Yanshi won’t be able to escape.

“I’ll explain that I felt unwell. You handle the rest. I’ll give you the drawing in three minutes.”

Baishi sprayed herself with a blocking agent to conceal the scent. The people outside were sharp-eyed. After taking care of everything, she gave Su Yanshi a profound look, turned, pushed the door open, and left.

Su Yanshi was left alone in a state of chaos.

“What… what have I done?!”

Li Zhuonan naturally knew nothing of this. By the time he returned to the lounge, Su Yanshi had adjusted her emotions. The slight thickness of her pheromones was merely attributed to the onset of her rut.

He excitedly showed Su Yanshi the drawing Baishi had left for her: “She thinks you’re a wolf cub, huh? It’s pretty accurate.”

Su Yanshi opened the drawing with a complex mind. It clearly depicted an animal with an Alpha bite guard over its mouth. She barely managed to keep her expression neutral. Her fingers tightened slightly, causing a wrinkle to appear instantly on the smooth paper.

She didn’t think it was a wolf; she thought it looked more like a puppy.

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