I’m Addicted to your Pheromones from the First Moment We Met - Chapter 15

Yu Zhouyao followed Dr. Pei into the public seating area. Both of them found a place to sit, but the weight of a dozen questions was pressing down on Yu Zhouyao’s chest, making it hard to breathe. She opened her mouth to speak. “Dr. Pei.”

Pei Xian cut her off. “Yu Zhouyao, I know you have many questions, and I know exactly what you want to ask. Regarding Mingyue, I will tell you a portion of the truth. As for your own physical condition, I can only say that I am not entirely sure yet.”

Yu Zhouyao nodded. “That is fine, Dr. Pei. Please, go ahead.”

Pei Xian’s expression turned somber. “As you have seen, Mingyue’s health is not good. When she was born, she was diagnosed with an SS-rank constitution. Everyone had high hopes for her, wishing for her to become a ‘phoenix’ hoping she would use her natural talent to build the family’s legacy. Unfortunately, the good times did not last. Whether it was fate or bad luck, starting from age six, the pheromones tied to her constitution began to undergo ‘alienation’.”

“Alienation?” Yu Zhouyao asked, confused.

“When she was born, Mingyue’s pheromones were not blood-scented. They carried an oceanic, metallic rust scent. As she grew, her pheromones changed. In medicine, we call this post-natal pheromone change ‘alienation’. The Mu family poured massive resources into studying this, and little Mingyue was very cooperative. The conclusion was that Mingyue has very weak control over her own pheromones and mental strength. Despite her elite physical gifts, she cannot control her mental energy. When her mental strength loses control, her pheromones follow suit.”

Pei Xian continued, “Little Mingyue accepted this calmly. She followed doctor’s orders and avoided using her mental strength or pheromones throughout her childhood. Now that she is at the university, she has to interact with people in a military setting, and accidents are inevitable. Since she cannot rely on her physical superiority, Mingyue pivoted toward another direction—socializing. You have seen it at school; she is incredibly skilled at it. In Aurora’s noble circles, she is known as the ‘Social Star’. The family doctors say she has a pheromone disorder, but I disagree. Standard medical definitions for that disorder do not include mental strength loss of control. I suspect there is another cause for her condition, but I have not discovered it yet. Now, Yu Zhouyao, tell me—why did she have an episode today?”

Yu Zhouyao felt a shiver down her spine, fearing the Mu family might drag her off for execution. Controlling her voice, she replied, “Dr. Pei, it was mental strength. Instructor Liu was teaching us how to cover our bodies with it. While we were practicing, Mu Mingyue started to lose control.”

Pei Xian opened her device and recorded the information. “Specific manifestations?”

“At first,” Yu Zhouyao recalled, “she mobilized her entire mental energy. Then, her pheromones followed the energy out. You know the rest.”

Pei Xian rubbed her temples. “I see. Thank you.”

“It was the right thing to do, Dr. Pei.”

Silence fell between them. Yu Zhouyao had not expected such a bitter history behind the “Golden Girl” Mu Mingyue. Forced to accept a tragic fate since childhood—how did she feel? Did she feel despair during the endless medical checks? Did she feel the bitterness of injustice while playing the role of a socialite? When she lost control, what remained of her consciousness—pain, grief, or madness?

In Yu Zhouyao’s eyes, the young miss was still standing tall. She had never withered; she was a bamboo shoot growing resiliently through the rain. Yu Zhouyao saw a reflection of her own shadow in her. While resilience is a virtue, Yu Zhouyao wished Mu Mingyue didn’t have to live as bitterly as she did. Heroes who overcome suffering are worth praising, but suffering itself—and those who cause it—should be thrown into the gutter.

Yu Zhouyao curled her lips into a helpless smile. Dr. Pei regained her composure, returning to her role as the serious, arrogant genius doctor. “Alright, enough about Mingyue. Let’s talk about you. You are also an SS-rank Alpha, but your mental strength and pheromones are stable and robust. Your case is worth studying. If we are lucky, our research might help Mingyue. Are you willing to cooperate with my research?”

Pei Xian paused, then added, “Of course, I will pay you a significant fee. You should be in need of money lately, right?”

Yu Zhouyao blinked. “Wait, Doctor did I get into trouble again? Do I owe money?”

Pei Xian raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t received the news? Your companion hasn’t told you?”

Yu Zhouyao opened her device and scanned the messages from Eric.

[Banana Lover]: Yu Zhouyao! Are you a jinx?! I wasn’t even in the hospital for a week, and the medical bill is 300,000 credits! 300,000! Where are we supposed to get that kind of money? Even if I sold myself piece by piece, I wouldn’t make 300,000! You are truly wicked, little lady… [Banana Lover]: I was wrong. I should have listened to you and run away sooner. I’m crying. 300,000, due in three months. I’m so poor, I’m going out to find a job right now. Yu Zhouyao! I hate you!

Yu Zhouyao felt her head spinning. She confirmed with Dr. Pei, “Doctor, this 300,000 credit bill…?”

Pei Xian nodded. “It is real. The people at the transportation base saw you were perfectly healthy and an S+ rank, so they assumed you weren’t short on cash. They very ‘generously’ passed both your bills to the hospital.”

Yu Zhouyao felt like fainting. She hadn’t even had two days of good life before she was back to being a debt-ridden beggar. “Two people, 300,000, three months?”

“Yes.”

Yu Zhouyao cursed internally. 300,000 was a fortune; even if she sold Eric’s organs, they couldn’t scrape that together.

Dr. Pei looked at her intently. “So, Yu Zhouyao, will you consider my proposal? Be my test subject?”

Yu Zhouyao froze. Did she have a better choice? Dr. Pei was truly an expert at taking advantage of a crisis. Taking a deep breath for her own safety, Yu Zhouyao asked for details. “How much is the pay? What is the content of the experiment? The frequency? Any banned substances? Any uncontrollable factors?”

Pei Xian raised an eyebrow. “Good. Truly an SS-rank. You are calm, sharp, and thorough. I checked your file; you are not wealthy, and your tuition and living expenses are covered by scholarships. The pay is 50,000 a month—150,000 total. You’ll have to find the other 150,000 yourself. Don’t worry about the content. Do I look like a mad scientist who ignores ethics for results? You just need to come to the hospital during your weekends, release some pheromones, and cooperate with my research. No physical or mental exhaustion—you get 150,000 just for lying there and releasing pheromones. Where else can you find a deal like that?”

Yu Zhouyao gave a fake smile. “Oh, Dr. Pei, how could I doubt you? You are my attending physician. Following doctor’s orders is my duty as a patient.”

Pei Xian’s smile was equally superficial. “Oh? Is Yu Zhouyao such a sensible and obedient patient?”

Yu Zhouyao chuckled. “Of course, Doctor. I am a law-abiding citizen of the Empire. So, you just want to know the mechanism between my pheromones and my physical condition, right? After hearing about Mingyue, I feel for her too. I want to help her.” The last part wasn’t a lie, Yu Zhouyao thought.

“I see, I see,” Dr. Pei interrupted. “A 50,000 credit deposit will be sent to you shortly. Cooperate well, and the final payment will be sent in two months. If you are done here, go back to class. Come do the experiment during your time off after military training. Oh, and one more thing—if Mingyue feels unwell in the future, don’t look for the Mu family. Message me directly. I’m taking Mingyue back to the hospital.”

“Understood, Dr. Pei,” Yu Zhouyao replied obediently.

She scurried back to the training ground. When she returned, Instructor Liu asked about Mu Mingyue. Yu Zhouyao hid the medical history and spoke vaguely about her symptoms. Once the instructor heard she was stable, he stopped asking.

After finishing the day’s training, Yu Zhouyao told Lu Yuan she was going to the hospital for a checkup and might be back late. She was still worried about Mu Mingyue and wanted to confirm she was okay with her own eyes. Of course, she couldn’t deny that the 150,000 credits from Dr. Pei made her bow her head to reality.

Yu Zhouyao pulled out her device and messaged Eric.

[God of Wealth]: Monkey, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first? [Banana Lover]: ? Yu Zhouyao… did you cause trouble again? [God of Wealth]: No. Fine, I’ll just say it. The good news is I found a way to earn 150,000. [God of Wealth]: The bad news is I sold myself to the hospital as a lab rat. [Banana Lover]: ????

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