Forced to Romance the Omega Psychiatrist - Chapter 37

“Senior, I don’t think I’m doing too well right now…” Bai Ye murmured softly, her face buried in Xia You’s shoulder as she gradually tightened her arms around Xia You’s waist, her expression fragile. “Could you give me some psychological counseling?”

Her reasoning sounded perfectly valid, yet the release of her alpha pheromones showed no signs of slowing down.

Malicious alpha pheromones surged recklessly, directly targeting Xia You’s scent gland.

Xia You momentarily lost focus, her breathing growing increasingly rapid as the sound of her own heartbeat drowned out almost everything else she barely registered Bai Ye’s words.

The pheromones affected Xia You far too strongly.

Bai Shuixi had never attempted to mark Xia You, at most only kissing her, which meant Xia You still reacted instinctively to unfamiliar alpha pheromones, leaving her nearly powerless to resist.

“Senior, I really missed you.”

Bai Ye nuzzled against her from behind, her voice dripping with affection and sorrow as she continued speaking.

Xia You blinked slowly, her thoughts sluggish, and for some reason, she suddenly recalled Bai Ye back in their school days before her true nature had been exposed. Back then, Bai Ye had seemed sweet and innocent, utterly harmless.

Looking back now, Bai Ye had always been adept at playing the victim, so much so that despite being an alpha, few had ever thought to be wary of her.

But what kind of normal alpha would use pheromone coercion when confessing?

A shiver ran down Xia You’s spine as she abruptly snapped back to reality. A random self-defense tip she’d once come across flashed through her mind, she had no idea if it would work, but she instinctively jerked her elbow back, striking Bai Ye.

Bai Ye clearly hadn’t expected Xia You, who always seemed so delicate, to have this kind of strength. Caught off guard having only restrained Xia You’s waist but not her arms she took the hit squarely on her jaw, letting out a muffled groan as she stumbled back a couple of steps.

Xia You, already weak-kneed, nearly collapsed to the floor the moment she was released.

“Senior.” Bai Ye clutched her jaw, instinctively reaching out to steady Xia You when she saw her unsteady.

Xia You barely managed to steady herself, the flush on her face still lingering, but the moment she saw Bai Ye’s outstretched hand, she staggered back. “Stay away from me!”

No matter what, Bai Ye was dangerous to her right now.

“Senior…” Bai Ye hesitated, a flicker of impatience flashing in her eyes. “Senior, that’s not what I meant. I just wanted to be close to you, it’s been so long since we last talked.”

As she spoke, she took a step forward.

Xia You flinched at the movement and, without thinking, pulled a spray bottle from her bag, pressing down on the nozzle and aiming it straight at Bai Ye.

A milky-white mist instantly coated Bai Ye’s body, the high-strength pheromone suppressant took effect immediately.

The pheromones that had been weakening Xia You’s body were temporarily blocked, their overwhelming presence dulled. Gasping for breath, Xia You fumbled with trembling hands before finally managing to slap a scent-blocking patch onto her own gland.

Thank goodness she had started carrying these supplies everywhere after the incident. Otherwise, she had no idea what might have happened.

Bai Ye stood a few steps away, coughing from the irritation of the alpha gland-targeting spiciness in the pheromone blocker. When she looked up again, her eyes were red-rimmed. Covering her nose, she gazed at Xia You with heartbroken distress:

“Senior… you actually sprayed this on me? Do you really not trust me at all?”

Xia You retreated two steps, bracing herself against the wall as she struggled to stay upright. Yet she stared at Bai Ye with utter bewilderment, as if unable to comprehend her words:

“…What does this have to do with trust? Don’t you know what effect an alpha’s pheromones have on an Omega? Why were you trying to suppress me with your pheromones? What were you trying to do?”

As she spoke, the delayed realization of being pheromone-suppressed finally hit her. Anger gradually seeped into her gaze, her hand on the wall clenching into a fist.

“Senior!” Bai Ye’s eyes grew even redder. She took a deep breath, forcing down her agitation and barely suppressing the shadow of Bai Shuixi’s influence before looking up pitifully. “Senior, I’m really sorry. I just missed you so much. I couldn’t control my pheromones for a moment.”

“You missed me,  then why release pheromones? Why hug me?” Xia You closed her eyes briefly. She felt nothing for Bai Ye beyond friendship or sisterly affection. “You shouldn’t have done this to me. Do you understand?”

“Senior…” Bai Ye approached hesitantly, playing the part of a confused younger sister perfectly. “But… but I just like you. Is senior suddenly avoiding me because… because of that CEO Bai?”

Xia You stiffened guiltily for a second, then remembered the documents Bai Shuixi had shown her.

The photos depicted a domineering Bai Ye who occasionally bullied others with her status, a stark contrast to the obedient, pitiful little alpha before her.

Not to mention Bai Ye had even resorted to snooping through housekeepers to dig up private information.

The real Bai Ye was nothing like the person she thought she knew.

The last traces of Xia You’s pity for her junior slowly evaporated.

“No,” Xia You opened her eyes, meeting Bai Ye’s gaze directly. “I’m avoiding you simply because I don’t like you that way. Bai Ye, I don’t have those feelings for you.”

Bai Ye’s breath hitched, her innocent expression nearly crumbling.

A shadow crept into Bai Ye’s eyes as she forced a smile. “Senior, what are you saying? We’re just schoolmates, aren’t we? I just wanted to see you.”

Xia You gave her a look, unwilling to let Bai Ye use their school relationship as an excuse. Disappointed, she said:

“If you really have no other feelings for me either, then forget I said anything. But Bai Ye, I need to make this clear, I will never like you.”

This time, Bai Ye stayed silent for a long moment. “Senior are you serious?”

“…Yes,” Xia You cast one last glance at Bai Ye, seemingly unaccustomed to delivering harsh words face-to-face. She turned her head away with a hint of coldness, “Also, don’t suddenly hug me and release pheromones like that again. It’s crossing the line. If it happens again, I’ll call the police. And I happen to know your academic advisor too. Think twice before trying anything reckless in the future.”

After delivering these ‘harsh words’, Xia You felt she had already been excessively severe. Turning around with the unfamiliar scent of alpha pheromones clinging to her, she hurried away with quick steps.

Bai Ye instinctively took a step forward but ultimately didn’t give chase.

She barely registered Xia You’s later words, her mind echoing only with “I don’t like you.”

Xia You’s retreating figure was still visible, briskly walking around a sculpture toward the Tianyin Building. Watching that graceful silhouette, Bai Ye felt waves of frustration rising within her.

All she wanted was an Omega, just to have that Omega look at her. Before, this warmth had always been within reach just a hand extended would bring her at least some affection.

So what had changed?

Clenching her fists, Bai Ye paced in circles, unable to help but wonder where things had gone wrong.

Hadn’t she always been like this before Bo Shuixi appeared? Everything had been fine before, hadn’t it? Xia You had never pushed her away like this why was she suddenly so resistant today?

Conveniently overlooking her own aggressive pheromone release, Bai Ye ignored her excessive possessiveness and proceeded to rationalize the situation.

No matter how she calculated it, the only variable was ‘Bo Shuixi’s appearance.’

In the end, it all came down to Bo Shuixi showing up.

She might have ulterior motives, but was that Bo Shuixi any better? She couldn’t possibly care much about Xia You. If Bai Ye could just seize one opportunity, Xia You would be hers again.

Bai Ye’s gaze returned to the entrance of Tianyin Building.

Not long after, Bo Shuixi, who had been reviewing documents in her office, suddenly heard a distinctive notification from her phone, a special alert tone she had assigned to Fang Shangzhe.

Startled out of her focus on the complex contracts, Bo Shuixi set aside the materials and picked up her phone.

True to form, Fang Shangzhe lived up to her expectations, demonstrating his two-faced nature to perfection. Willing to sell out anyone for profit, he promptly delivered information about Bai Ye’s movements.

Fang Shangzhe: [Boss, that person you mentioned last time is making moves.]

Bo Shuixi glanced at the message.

X: [Details.]

Fang Shangzhe: [Image][Image]

He sent several photos of Xia You, clearly taken from a surveillance angle: [Boss, I came to you as soon as I got the news. In our line of work, we hear things. I just received word the person you’re watching has put out feelers, specifically looking for opportunities when this Omega is alone. No word yet on what they plan to do.]

Bo Shuixi frowned slightly.

Bai Ye?

She’s looking for moments when Xia You is alone?

What does she intend to do?

Bai Shuixi had always known that Bai Ye had ulterior motives towards Xia You, but now was definitely not a good time to approach her. She and Xia You hadn’t fallen out yet in fact, Xia You still trusted her quite a bit. Rushing in now would only make Xia You more resistant…

Unless… something had happened!

Almost instinctively, Bai Shuixi stood up and pulled open her office door, just as Xia You returned carrying coffee. They came face to face abruptly.

Bai Shuixi froze momentarily, meeting Xia You’s startled, flustered gaze. Her eyes swept over Xia You’s slightly reddened eyes and nose, her brows gradually furrowing.

What happened?

The question rose instinctively, but with other secretarial staff still watching from the office, Bai Shuixi remained silent for a moment before stepping back. “Come in.”

Xia You hesitated, instinctively reluctant. “I maybe later?”

She’d just sprayed herself with pheromone blockers and wasn’t sure if the scent had completely dissipated.

Bai Shuixi gave her a look. “What are you hesitating for?”

Xia You: “……”

Unable to dissuade Bai Shuixi, Xia You reluctantly followed her inside. “Actually, I—”

“Who did you meet?”

Their voices overlapped. Xia You blinked, lifting her gaze to meet Bai Shuixi’s.

Bai Shuixi’s eyes briefly met hers before dropping to Xia You’s neck. Her expression turned cold that aloof, beautiful face perfectly suited for such a look, making her appear both aristocratic and formidable.

Xia You’s breath hitched, her legs weakening slightly under the scrutiny. Yet Bai Shuixi said nothing, only moving closer when Xia You seemed about to buckle under the pressure.

A faint fragrance invaded Xia You’s senses as Bai Shuixi drew near. Xia You stiffened, watching those lips approach closer, closer—until they paused mere centimeters from her cheek.

Cool fingertips brushed the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck, lifting a corner of the concealed blocker patch.

“Pheromone blocker?” Bai Shuixi murmured, glancing down.

“……” Distracted by the proximity, Xia You stared blankly. “Huh?”

Meeting those dazed, utterly confused eyes, the vague irritation Bai Shuixi felt over losing control of the situation suddenly dissipated. She couldn’t help turning her head to hide a smile.

While Bai Ye’s recklessness and Fang Shangzhe’s opportunism were annoying, the female lead herself was rather… endearing.

Though her amusement would undoubtedly embarrass someone.

“…What’s so funny?” Xia You flushed with indignation, turning away to swat Bai Shuixi’s hand aside. “What’s wrong with using blockers? Can’t I use them if I want to?”

“Is that so?” Bai Shuixi watched her step away but didn’t stop her, only following to sniff lightly at Xia You’s collar under her bewildered gaze. “But,  what’s this scent, sister? Did you change perfumes?”

Xia You froze completely, rendered speechless.

Bai Shuixi’s breath ghosted over her collarbone light, teasing, yet enough to thoroughly unsettle her.

She still remembered, she had used the perfume bottle kept at Bai Shuixi’s house before leaving in the morning. Bai Shuixi probably knew not just the brand and series, but even the production date by heart. There was no way the scent on her would have changed just from going out to buy coffee.

This didn’t add up. She couldn’t fool Bai Shuixi.

“I…” Xia You didn’t even notice her own eyes reddening again, her expression a mix of innocence and delicate allure. “I ran into Bai Ye earlier…”

“Hmm?” Bai Shuixi paused, slightly surprised as she glanced at Xia You.

Of course, she knew it was Bai Ye, who else could it be? She just hadn’t expected Xia You to tell her outright.

Given Xia You’s personality, she had assumed there’d be some resistance like avoiding the topic because she didn’t want an alpha with unclear intentions meddling in her affairs.

Had something major happened?

“You ran into Bai Ye, and then? What did she do to you?” Bai Shuixii

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