Moonlight Allure - Chapter 35

After the Scum Alpha slapped her toxic superior across the face, she was summarily fired. When her Beta mother came to her demanding money, she refused to give her a single cent. The matter was taken to court, but because she was now unemployed, the mandated alimony was meager—barely a few hundred dollars a month.

The Scum Alpha began to squander Jiang Xueyin’s original savings. Every month, she tossed the required money to her mother like she was throwing scraps to a beggar. She spent the rest of her time drowning in alcohol at bars, living a life of hollow decadence.

One night, drunk as usual, she was followed into a dark alley by an Alpha with an antisocial personality disorder. She was murdered there.

When Jiang Xueyin woke the next morning, the first thing she did was look in the mirror. The dream from the night before felt too vivid to be a mere fantasy.

“What are you staring at me for? You think looking at me will bring Xiao Nianru back to your side? Keep dreaming!” Her reflection wore a mocking sneer.

Has the Scum Alpha really returned?

If the Scum Alpha had killed her off in the real world and then come back here, what would happen to her?

Xueyin lowered her eyes, pushing the creeping unease to the back of her mind. She pretended not to hear the voice, went into the bathroom to wash up, and headed to school as if everything were normal.

After class, she wandered through the campus with her camera, capturing the small beauties of daily life to try and relax.

“Hey? Sister Jiang?” A familiar voice called out from behind.

Xueyin turned around to find Xiao Qingyu looking at her. “Qingyu? You’re at this school too?”

“I am,” Qingyu smiled. “Want to grab a coffee?”

“Sure.” Xueyin tucked her camera back into her bag. She figured Qingyu would have more news about Xiao Nianru.

Xueyin ordered a matcha latte, while Qingyu went for an Americano. Taking a small sip, Xueyin asked, “How has Sister Nianru been lately?”

“She finished her mark-removal surgery yesterday. She’s still resting in the hospital.” Qingyu’s gaze was searching. “I’m actually quite curious—why did you two break up?”

“I didn’t want to leave. But if I didn’t, I was afraid Lin Shan would target her. To protect her, I made a deal with Jiang Jue.” Xueyin managed a strained smile, her hand instinctively brushing the lavender-scented patch over her gland.

“The the surgery must have been painful, right?”

“Definitely. Otherwise, the divorce rate wouldn’t be so low.” A flicker of relief crossed Qingyu’s eyes; she was glad she was an Alpha. If she had manifested as an Omega, she would have been tethered to Lin Shan for life, her world narrowed to a single person.

“By the way, let’s exchange contact info.” Qingyu pulled out her phone and winked.

“Okay.” After scanning the QR code, Xueyin had a sudden thought. Her eyes lit up as she asked tentatively, “If Sister Nianru comes to visit you, could you let me know? I won’t disturb you—I just want to see her from a distance. That would be enough.”

Qingyu burst out laughing. “Of course. But you don’t need to stand far away. I think you look quite good by my sister’s side. Even if you can’t be lovers, being friends is fine.”

“Thank you,” Xueyin replied with a smile.

“Consider it payback for saving me from Lin Shan on the cruise. I carry some responsibility for everything that happened after that,” Qingyu said.

“Don’t overthink it. It was my own choice.”

“Fair enough.” Qingyu took a sip of her coffee. “Which department are you in?”

“Photography.”

“I’m in Medicine, specializing in pheromone research. Since you studied directing back home, photography is related, but you’ll need the prep courses first. I previously studied in Country W, so I was able to apply directly for my Master’s.” Qingyu held her warm coffee. “Regardless, I owe you a thank you. If it weren’t for you, I couldn’t have continued my studies. If you run into trouble, I’ll do my best to help.”

Xueyin finished the last of her latte, the sweetness mingling with a hint of bitterness. “Thanks.”

Just then, Qingyu’s phone rang. It was Xiao Nianru.

She raised an eyebrow at Xueyin before answering. “Hey Sis, how are you feeling?”

“Recovering well. I didn’t want you to worry, so I thought I’d call,” the gentle voice came through the speaker. “Are you adjusting to life in Country Y?”

Xueyin hadn’t heard that voice in a month; she felt a brief sense of vertigo.

“I’m adjusting well,” Qingyu said slowly. “Country Y is surrounded by the sea with a mild, humid climate—not much different from Country W.”

“Xueyin is in Country Y now, too. I was worried she’d be lost on her own, so I gave her your WeChat. If you get along, you can keep each other company so it’s not too lonely,” Nianru said.

Qingyu shot Xueyin a teasing, meaningful look. “Don’t you worry, Sis. I’ll take good care of my ‘brother-in-law’!”

Nianru laughed softly. “She’s not your brother-in-law anymore. You should change how you address her.”

“And what should I call her then?” Qingyu asked playfully. “Sis, you clearly still care about her. What exactly is your relationship?”

After a long pause, Nianru spoke: “We’re friends, I suppose.” A fan and an idol are friends, too. “But.” she hesitated. “Don’t tell her I asked you to look after her. Just let her think you’re thanking her for the cruise incident.”

Xueyin’s heart skipped a beat, her fingers curling. Why doesn’t she want me to know?

“Ah, but.” Qingyu looked at Xueyin with feigned difficulty. “It seems she already knows.”

The other end was silent for a moment before a sigh came through. “Give her the phone, then.”

Xueyin looked up, her eyes shining brilliantly. She snatched the phone from Qingyu, her voice trembling. “Hello? Sister Nianru, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. And you?” Nianru asked with concern.

Remembering the events of the previous night, Xueyin went quiet for a moment, her tone dipping into disappointment. “I, I might be in some trouble.”

Qingyu looked at her, confused. Trouble? Why didn’t she mention it before? Then, seeing the unshed tears in Xueyin’s eyes, she had an epiphany. So, this is the legendary ‘playing the pity card.’ Lin Shan and she were both too stubborn for such scenes.

Nianru’s voice grew even softer. “What happened? If Qingyu can help, let her handle it for now.”

“I don’t know how to explain it.” Xueyin bit her lip, sounding deeply aggrieved.

Nianru let out a helpless sigh. “Next Wednesday, I’m going to Country Y for a commercial shoot. Come and see me with Qingyu then.”

“I’m sorry to trouble you again, Sister, but this is important. I have to tell you in person.” A small smile played on Xueyin’s lips.

“Alright. I’ll see you then.”

“Mhm. Goodbye.”

Xueyin handed the phone back, meeting Qingyu’s inquisitive gaze.

“I finally understand why my sister can’t quite cut ties with you,” Qingyu laughed. “Who could be heartless enough to say no to that pathetic face?”

Xueyin blinked innocently. “It’s just that Sister Nianru is too kind.”

“Yeah, I’ll agree with that.”

They realized they lived only two streets apart and headed back to their respective apartments. Back home, Xueyin tidied up and looked in the mirror again. The “other” Jiang Xueyin didn’t appear.

She watched for a while before taking her pajamas into the bathroom. As she peeled off her scent-blocking patch, the light fragrance of oranges filled the room. Though it was a sweet scent, it gave her a sickening sense of suffocation. She gagged over the sink again.

Only after turning on the ventilation did the nausea subside. She washed up quickly, eager to leave the confined space. Once out, she applied a new patch and opened the windows.

As the sky darkened outside, so did Xueyin’s confusion. Something felt wrong, but she couldn’t name it. She spent the next few days focused on her studies. The Scum Alpha didn’t return to her dreams, nor did the reflection reappear.

But as Wednesday approached, a sense of anticipation grew, alongside a heightened physical revulsion toward the smell of oranges. She finally made it a habit to wear a scent-blocker at all times.

On Wednesday, Qingyu sent her a location. Following the GPS to a nearby commercial street, Xueyin found a strange black car. Qingyu leaned her head out of the window and waved. Xueyin ran over.

Xiao Qingyu was in the passenger seat, while Xiao Nianru sat in the back.

“Sit in the back,” Qingyu said, giving her a knowing wink.

Xueyin caught her meaning instantly. She shot Qingyu a grateful smile and carefully slid into the seat beside Nianru.

“Long time no see,” Nianru said with a warm smile. “What would you like for lunch?”

“Long time no see. I’m not picky,” Xueyin paused, “except for anything orange-flavored. I don’t know why, but lately, the smell of oranges makes me want to vomit.”

Nianru looked confused. “But isn’t your own pheromone scent orange?”

Xueyin nodded. “Exactly. And the reaction is particularly violent when I encounter orange-scented pheromones.”

From the front, Qingyu turned around, her brow furrowed in concentration. “Sister Jiang, you should really go to the hospital for a checkup. This actually aligns perfectly with my research. My mentor is an expert in this field, and she has a patient with similar symptoms—though in that case, the person was a Beta forcibly converted into an Omega and developed a physical revulsion to their new pheromones.”

“Converted.” The memory of the auction on the cruise ship flashed through Xueyin’s mind.

Qingyu’s next words confirmed her suspicions. “That Beta was deceived by an Alpha who coaxed her into the conversion, only to throw her into the auction. Because of your actions that night, everyone on that ship who hadn’t been ‘claimed’ yet was set free. She was one of them. I’ve spoken with her and mentioned what you did; she’s very grateful. Since the ‘Jiang Xueyin’ identity supposedly died in the fire, I didn’t tell her you were still alive.”

Xueyin nodded slowly. “I see, how is she doing now?”

“Her body suffered a severe rejection of the artificial gland. To save her life, they eventually had to surgically remove it,” Qingyu sighed heavily.

Nianru instinctively reached back to touch her own gland. Mark-removal surgery was painful enough—she couldn’t imagine the agony of having a gland implanted and then cut out.

“Surely my case isn’t that severe? Perhaps.” Xueyin thought of the figure in the mirror. She lowered her lashes and whispered, “Maybe it’s psychological?”

She suspected it had something to do with the “other” person in the mirror, but whether that was a hallucination or the actual Scum Alpha remained a mystery.

Qingyu nodded. “That case was an extreme example, so don’t worry too much. You should check the physical state of your gland at the hospital first. If everything is clear there, you can consult a psychologist.”

“Thank you, I will. Once I have some free time, I’ll go for an exam,” Xueyin said.

But Nianru spoke up firmly: “There’s no time like the present. After we finish lunch, I’ll go with you to get it checked.”