I’m Addicted to your Pheromones from the First Moment We Met - Chapter 12

Sure enough, as soon as training ended, Mu Mingyue came looking for her. Her gentle voice drifted over even before she arrived.

“Zhouyao, Zhouyao, I am here! I am so sorry, I did not have time to talk to you earlier. How are you feeling today? You look a bit pale…”

As she spoke, she naturally raised her hand to feel Yu Zhouyao’s forehead. Yu Zhouyao raised her own hand to wipe her face, precisely catching Mu Mingyue’s hand mid-air before letting it go just as naturally.

“Actually, I feel alright today,” Yu Zhouyao said with a smile. She countered, “What about you, Miss Mu? Aren’t you tired of standing? Don’t you want to sit for a while?”

Mu Mingyue raised an eyebrow, casting an almost imperceptible glance at her hand which Yu Zhouyao had avoided. She maintained her slight smile and said, “Is Zhouyao worrying about me? Hehe. Since you have made the offer, I will gladly accept.”

With that, Mu Mingyue took a few steps and plopped down right next to Yu Zhouyao. Yu Zhouyao cursed herself internally for the tactical error.

Mu Mingyue tilted her head slightly toward her, her voice sweet with concern. “Zhouyao, why were you so late this morning? You even got caught by the instructor.”

“I slept late last night and woke up late this morning,” Yu Zhouyao replied. “My legs were too slow. If I had been just a bit faster, I could have made it at the last second.”

Mu Mingyue complained playfully, “You love arriving at the last second too much. Instructor Liu is very strict about that kind of behavior.”

Yu Zhouyao nodded.

“And look at you, punished with thirty laps today. You worked so hard.”

“It is fine. I ran forty laps yesterday, after all.”

Mu Mingyue nodded. “That is true. We are both quite amazing! Neither of us collapsed after forty laps yesterday.”

Yu Zhouyao just smiled. While they chatted, many students on the field were stealing glances at them. A few of those who had managed to speak to Mu Mingyue the day before walked over, attempting to join the conversation.

Yu Zhouyao caught a micro-second of a frown on Mu Mingyue’s face before it smoothed out. In the blink of an eye, Mu Mingyue was back to her flawless, polite expression. Based on her observations, Yu Zhouyao confirmed for the second time that Mu Mingyue did not enjoy socializing with these people.

In that brief moment of Mu Mingyue’s irritation, Yu Zhouyao felt the girl truly come alive. The exquisite porcelain doll finally showed a touch of human emotion.

Ah, wait—an exquisite porcelain doll that is actually fierce, Yu Zhouyao corrected herself mentally.

Mu Mingyue greeted the visitors with a smile. “Yes, I think military training is very tiring too. Instructor Liu is very serious.” “You think he is a bit harsh as well?” “Eh? Nutrient solutions? Actually, I am not picky about flavors.” “As for fruit, I like peaches best.” “The cafeteria? Sorry, I have not eaten there yet.”

Yu Zhouyao once again performed a silent exit. As she stepped away from the crowd, she gave Mu Mingyue a small wave. Mu Mingyue turned her head instantly, her expression shifting as she shot Yu Zhouyao a glare. Yu Zhouyao grinned and chuckled silently. This was a small successful counter-attack against the young miss.

By the time Yu Zhouyao returned from the restroom, training was about to resume. Mu Mingyue and her crowd had dispersed. Yu Zhouyao hurried into the formation to avoid another penalty.

The second half of training was even more brutal. Instructor Liu seemed to have lost his mind, ordering everyone to hold a half-squat with one leg extended to train their physical endurance.

“Everyone! Hold this position! Switch legs every hour!”

At this command, every student’s face twisted into a grimace. They could feel the agony of the posture just from Instructor Liu’s passionate tone. Yu Zhouyao, being in the back row, could clearly hear the complaints from the students in front. She could not help but frown herself.

Lu Yuan whispered, “Oh no… I won’t be able to last.”

Yu Zhouyao nodded.

“Everyone! Move it! What are you standing there for?” Instructor Liu roared.

The students reluctantly shifted into the position. This drill was incredibly taxing; the quadriceps of the standing leg had to maintain constant tension, while the extended leg had to stay perfectly straight. Within minutes, many felt like their lower bodies were losing sensation.

Yu Zhouyao bit her lip, using a slight sting of pain to distract herself and shift her focus from her lower body to her upper body. The pleas for mercy were constant. “Instructor, please…” “I really can’t hold it. It hurts.” “Ah…”

Instructor Liu remained unmoved, playing the role of the heartless trainer perfectly. Time crawled by, and sweat dripped steadily. The soreness in her legs became more and more pronounced. Yu Zhouyao felt as if her body was about to separate from her bones. Many students had already collapsed, piling up on the ground.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yu Zhouyao saw Lu Yuan’s face turn pale. She did not know what her own face looked like, but she felt her stamina draining rapidly. She looked forward. Instructor Liu did not scold the fallen students, but he did not release those who were still struggling to hold on.

Heavy breathing echoed through the formation. Many people’s calves were trembling uncontrollably, yet Mu Mingyue remained standing perfectly straight. Yu Zhouyao could only see her back. The young miss stood elegantly among the sea of collapsed bodies, possessing a strange sense of loneliness and pride. She did not look like she was undergoing physical training; she looked more like a beautiful assassin savoring her past victories, poised and ready for the next battlefield.

Yu Zhouyao thought that the blood-scented pheromones really did suit her. If nothing else, as an SS-rank, Mu Mingyue’s physical endurance was indeed formidable. The heir of a great family really has a hard life, she mused.

While Yu Zhouyao’s mind wandered, another large group of people collapsed. Her roommate, Lu Yuan, could no longer hold on and slumped to the ground. Only she and Mu Mingyue remained standing.

True sisters-in-misery who refuse to lose, Yu Zhouyao mocked in her head.

Some of the fallen students were gasping for air, while others with weaker constitutions were spitting out blood-tinged saliva. Yu Zhouyao also felt the metallic taste of blood rising in her throat. Mu Mingyue remained there, motionless. Some students began to whisper, but were silenced by the iron-faced Instructor Liu. The only sounds left on the field were the breathing of the two girls.

Yu Zhouyao’s calves were completely swollen and aching. She was not even sure if she would be able to walk tomorrow. She comforted herself with the thought that she wouldn’t be the only “lame duck” tomorrow. Great, I get to see a whole flock of ducks waddling around!

After hours of agony, only the final minutes remained. Yu Zhouyao counted down in her heart. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one—

“Good! Rest!”

Yu Zhouyao finally heard the command. She straightened her body with a sigh of relief, shaking her legs to relax. A burst of warm applause broke out. The students sitting on the ground spontaneously clapped for the two of them.

Mu Mingyue turned around and winked at her. Her smile was pure, without any hint of provocation—innocent yet enchanting. Mu Mingyue was indeed a respectable rival. Yu Zhouyao did not speak but tossed her a bottle of water as a sign of respect. Mu Mingyue unscrewed the cap and took a large gulp.

Yu Zhouyao smiled at her, raised her own bottle, and toasted her. The surrounding students cheered again for the strongest duo of the year, and even Instructor Liu gave a silent clap from a distance. Yu Zhouyao smiled and bowed with Mu Mingyue to thank them.

Their superhuman endurance made them go viral among the freshmen once again. That night, the forum was flooded with posts about them. Even Lu Yuan would not stop praising her on the way back to the dorm.

“My dear roommate, how… how is your endurance so incredible?” “I could barely last one round, but you two did all three! Are you even human?” “I remembered the forum was debating if you two were SS-ranks! I think you definitely are!” “Yu Zhouyao, hey, talk to me!”

Lu Yuan shook Yu Zhouyao’s shoulder, snapping her out of her daze. “Sorry, I was just spacing out. What did you say?”

“I said, are you an SS-rank?”

Yu Zhouyao bit open a nutrient solution and said vaguely, “I think… not.” She praised herself in her head; look how obedient she was, truly a good child who followed the doctor’s orders.

Lu Yuan looked incredulous. “What? No? That can’t be right! Mu Mingyue is a confirmed SS-rank. Since you can keep up with her, your physical quality can’t be bad.”

“Oh,” Yu Zhouyao finished her drink and continued, “When I was in the hospital, the doctor said I was S+ rank.”

Lu Yuan nodded. “I guess S+ is also quite powerful. I really envy you guys!”

“Envy what?”

“For Alphas, physical quality is everything, and it is decided at birth. You were born to be this strong…”

Yu Zhouyao shook her head and countered, “Not really. I was very small and thin when I was a kid. I was sick every other day and went hungry most of the time.”

Lu Yuan just took it as a joke. Yu Zhouyao did not mind; children of the poor have to grow up early, and where she came from, seeing a five-year-old out begging was common. Even if she told the truth about her past, most people would just hear it as a joke.

Yu Zhouyao could not help but wonder what Mu Mingyue was like when she was younger. Had she always been a “jade-faced fox”?

Speak of the devil. A message from Mu Mingyue flashed on her device.

[A Round Moon]: Are you asleep, Zhouyao? [God of Wealth]: Not yet. [A Round Moon]: Wow, we were super amazing today. [God of Wealth]: Yes. You were very impressive. [A Round Moon]: Hehe, I am so happy, Zhouyao praised me. [God of Wealth]: Mm. I am praising you.

Yu Zhouyao paused, then continued typing.

[God of Wealth]: Even the instructor praised us today. [A Round Moon]: Mmhmm. It’s “us”~ [A Round Moon]: This is great, Zhouyao is with me. [God of Wealth]: …Fine.

Yu Zhouyao deleted her initial sharp retort and replaced it with gentler words.

[God of Wealth]: Remember to stretch. If you don’t, your leg muscles might cramp. [A Round Moon]: I will! I have noted it down, thank you Zhouyao! [A Round Moon]: Then I’ll wish you goodnight! [God of Wealth]: Goodnight. Sweet dreams. [A Round Moon]: (^▽^)

Yu Zhouyao gave a light chuckle, turned off her device, and went to shower. Afterward, she changed into clean clothes and fell into a deep sleep.

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