How Could a Scumbag Alpha Possibly Love His Wife? - Chapter 43

It was the first workday of the week, and Cheng Wan seemed especially uneasy.

From breakfast onward, Bai Juntang noticed she kept zoning out. She would repeatedly reach for the back of her neck, frowning deeply, clearly lost in thought.

She even ate noticeably less than usual, which made Aunt Pei ask twice if the food didn’t taste good.

After breakfast, Bai Juntang saw Cheng Wan still clutching her neck, her eyes distracted and unfocused.

Unable to ignore it any longer, Bai Juntang wiped her mouth, stood up, and said to Cheng Wan, “Come with me to the bathroom.”

Cheng Wan looked up in surprise, but Bai Juntang was already walking away, so she quickly got up and followed her. On the way, she instinctively reached up to touch her neck again.

From behind, Cheng Wan watched Bai Juntang walk into the downstairs bathroom, curiosity filling her eyes. Once they were both inside, she finally asked timidly, “Miss Bai, is something wrong?”

Bai Juntang shut the door behind them with a soft click, the sound startling Cheng Wan, who took a small step back, instinctively cautious.

Seeing her reaction, Bai Juntang couldn’t help but smile. “Still so afraid of me?”

“No…” Cheng Wan avoided her gaze and fidgeted with her fingers. “Is there something you wanted to say?”

“Not really. I just noticed you kept touching your neck during breakfast.” Bai Juntang knew Cheng Wan must have been using scent blockers for a long time. Suddenly stopping would naturally make her uncomfortable.

But for the baby’s sake, Bai Juntang still hoped she would stop using chemically processed products like those. Wearing them constantly wasn’t good for an Omega’s health either.

“It’s just… the scent,” Cheng Wan said awkwardly, her brows drawn together. “Without the blocker, the scent is really strong. I’m not used to it.”

Bai Juntang stepped closer, gently took her wrist, and pulled her in. Then she leaned down to her neck and took a small sniff.

“There is a scent, but it’s very faint,” Bai Juntang said. “No one would notice unless they were really close.”

“Really?” Cheng Wan wasn’t sure. She lowered her head and tried to smell herself, wrinkling her small nose. “But I still feel like…”

Bai Juntang saw how concerned she looked and asked, “Why do you always wear the blockers? Didn’t they teach in health class that you only need them during sensitivity periods?”

Cheng Wan nodded and explained, “They did, but my mom always said I smelled, so she made me wear them all the time.”

In truth, Xu He had always been uncomfortable with Cheng Wan being an adopted daughter. Though the Cheng family meant little to Bai Juntang, they were still wealthy. There were always Omega girls trying to get ahead, and Xu He disliked Omegas—especially during sensitivity periods.

Whether Cheng Jiajian ever had inappropriate thoughts was unclear, but Xu He, out of fear and suspicion, forced Cheng Wan to wear scent blockers constantly, regardless of whether she needed them.

Looking at Cheng Wan now, Bai Juntang sighed softly and said, “But you’re heading to the office soon. You can’t keep touching your neck like that all day.”

Cheng Wan looked troubled, clearly anxious about it. She didn’t feel confident leaving the house like this.

Bai Juntang looked into her eyes and said quietly, “If you’re afraid of others catching your scent, then let them catch mine instead.”

Before Cheng Wan could figure out what she meant, Bai Juntang stepped in close.

She gently cupped Cheng Wan’s face and lowered her head, pressing their lips together in a kiss.

Her lips were soft and sweet. The taste of the milk she drank that morning lingered faintly, and even Cheng Wan’s tongue felt warm and tender.

The sudden kiss startled Cheng Wan. But after so many kisses, she only froze for a moment before slowly closing her eyes.

Pressed against the cool bathroom tiles, she felt Bai Juntang’s arm slide around her waist, holding her close.

Their breathing grew heavier. The small bathroom filled with the scent of both of them.

White peach and fir. Plant-based pheromones were gentle and subtle, wrapping around them as they kissed, making the air feel light and thin.

Cheng Wan was breathing rapidly. Bai Juntang released her own scent to soothe her. Their kiss grew deeper, as if each was stealing the other’s breath.

“Mmm…”

Cheng Wan felt a sharp ache in her gland. She kept her eyes tightly shut, her lashes trembling, the corners of her eyes turning red.

She panted, gripping Bai Juntang’s shirt with trembling hands.

Bai Juntang placed a hand on the back of her neck, but the touch only made Cheng Wan shake harder in her arms.

If it weren’t for the wrong time and place, Bai Juntang would have marked her right then and there.

She imagined her own sharp teeth piercing Cheng Wan’s gland, Cheng Wan trembling from the pain, maybe even whimpering through tears. That Alpha instinct to claim what was hers thrilled her, but her rational mind said no.

At least, not now.

When the long kiss finally ended, Bai Juntang saw Cheng Wan’s eyes were rimmed red. Tears were still clinging to her lashes, and her little nose was flushed like a startled bunny.

Maybe the kiss without the scent blocker had overwhelmed her. Now, leaning against the bathroom tiles, Cheng Wan was gasping for breath. Her tears were ready to fall at the blink of an eye, and Bai Juntang couldn’t tell whether she wanted to laugh or feel guilty.

“Why are you so delicate?” she murmured, voice both amused and tender.

Bai Juntang reached out and gently lifted Cheng Wan’s chin, wiping the tears from the corner of her eye with her thumb. Her gaze was filled with a softness she rarely showed as she said quietly, “We’ve kissed before, haven’t we? So why are you crying this time?”

Cheng Wan didn’t know how to answer. This kiss felt different, and maybe it was because she wasn’t wearing the scent blocker anymore, but she didn’t feel like herself.

It reminded her of the night they first met. Her mind wanted to resist, but her body seemed desperate for Bai Juntang to hold her tighter.

“I…” Cheng Wan had just started to speak when Bai Juntang leaned down again and kissed her lips gently.

“Now your whole body smells like me,” Bai Juntang whispered. “This scent will last all day. You don’t have to worry about anyone smelling your pheromones.”

Cheng Wan looked up at her, her face burning with heat.

But if others could smell Bai Juntang’s scent on her, wouldn’t that mean they had been very intimate?

Only people who were truly close would carry such a strong trace of someone else’s scent.

Of course Bai Juntang knew that. She had done it on purpose. She wanted Cheng Wan to carry her scent like a mark, a way to tell the world that Cheng Wan belonged to her, and only her.

The scent in the bathroom was thick. Bai Juntang turned on the fan to air it out before stepping out.

Cheng Wan, still flustered, stayed inside for a while. When she finally came out, her cheeks were still red, and the sides of her hair were damp as if she had splashed water on her face.

Unfortunately, it didn’t help much.

Aunt Pei saw her and instantly understood what had happened. She smiled and said gently, “It’s getting late. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late for work.”

Cheng Wan blushed even more, quickly turned to grab her things, and left the house with Bai Juntang.

In the car, she could still smell Bai Juntang’s scent on herself. It was strong and distinct, that cool, woody fir scent. She didn’t even have to move to notice it, and it was definitely going to last until the end of the day.

Neither of them spoke on the way. Bai Juntang, though, was clearly in a good mood. Even after Cheng Wan got out of the car, she stayed parked there for a while before driving off.

Cheng Wan arrived at work just in time. She greeted a few familiar coworkers and took her seat.

A moment later, Chang Le rushed in with breakfast in hand. She dropped into her chair, out of breath, and turned to Cheng Wan. “Morning! Did you eat already? I bought some pan-fried dumplings and soup buns.”

“I’ve eaten,” Cheng Wan replied, pouring her a cup of water while watching her unwrap her breakfast.

“No need,” Chang Le said with her mouth full, her eyes drifting toward Cheng Wan’s baby bump. “You’re pregnant and still waiting on me?”

Cheng Wan smiled, her eyes curving gently. “It’s fine. Drink something so you don’t choke.”

Chang Le didn’t argue. She kept eating while chatting with Cheng Wan about her crazy commute. She had missed the elevator during rush hour and ended up climbing the stairs.

As the two of them talked, Manager Zhou walked over. She sniffed the air with a frown and asked, “What’s that smell?”

Cheng Wan instinctively stiffened.

Manager Zhou glanced at Chang Le and said with disapproval, “Why are you eating such strong-smelling food in the office? You should’ve gone to the hallway near the window after clocking in, eaten there, then come back.”

Chang Le replied with a mouthful, “That’s so inconvenient.”

“Inconvenient or not, you need to eat outside. What if you make Cheng Wan feel sick?”

“She’s doing a lot better now,” Chang Le quickly said. “She even takes me out for snacks all the time.”

Manager Zhou turned to Cheng Wan. “Really? Your appetite’s improved?”

“A lot,” Cheng Wan answered with a small nod. “I get hungry easily. Even after lunch, I usually need something in the afternoon.”

Chang Le added, “And after work, she always drags me to get something spicy before going home.”

“Spicy, huh?” Manager Zhou’s eyes lit up. “Could that mean it’s a girl?”

Chang Le giggled and whispered, “I think so too. Girls are the best. Boys are noisy and sweaty, you can’t compare them to little girls.”

Manager Zhou agreed. “Boys are so wild, especially when they’re around seven or eight. You can’t control them. Girls are much better—sweet, gentle, and always adorable.”

“And if she’s anything like Cheng Wan, even better,” Chang Le said, glancing at her belly. “Are you and Miss Bai planning to find out the baby’s gender?”

Cheng Wan paused. “Find out the gender?”

“You should be able to by now, right?” Manager Zhou asked. “You’re about five months in. They can check for both gender and secondary gender differentiation. It’s totally legal here. Lots of parents find out early so they can start preparing.”

Cheng Wan hadn’t known that. For some reason, her heart felt heavy.

Right now, the baby being a boy or girl didn’t even matter. What mattered more was the baby’s secondary gender. Suddenly, she wondered—if the baby turned out to be an Omega, would Bai Juntang still be this kind and protective?

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