Reborn as the Heartless Alpha - Chapter 29

Song Yi turned away to tend to her wound. Shortly after, Zhou Zhou caught up, trailing behind her with the blood-stained grasshopper in hand.

You Xuechu leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the two of them with a slight shake of her head.

After a while, she stepped inside as well and happened to spot a rather beautiful little grasshopper lying on the floor lush green with the scent of fresh grass, so lifelike it seemed real. You Xuechu bent down to pick it up.

It must have been folded by Zhou Zhou, she thought. Song Yi probably couldn’t make something this lovely.

Song Yi rinsed her wound under the kitchen faucet while Zhou Zhou silently watched from behind. When the wound had paled from the water, Song Yi turned it off.

As she turned around, Zhou Zhou handed her a clean tissue to dry her hands. Song Yi accepted it with a smile, wiping them dry.

Then she watched as Zhou Zhou peeked out of the kitchen to ask You Xuechu, who was lounging idly in the living room, “Miss You, do you have a first aid kit at home?”

Unsurprisingly, You Xuechu teased, “If you don’t treat that tiny wound soon, it’ll heal on its own.” It wasn’t directed at Zhou Zhou, Song Yi knew full well it was meant for her.

“I’m fine, Zhou Zhou,” Song Yi said, reaching out to pat Zhou Zhou’s head. Zhou Zhou instinctively ducked slightly, as if dodging, and Song Yi quickly withdrew her hand.

Despite her sarcasm, You Xuechu still got up to fetch the first aid kit, placing it on the table and calling out, “Zhou Zhou, over here.”

“Thank you, Miss You,” Zhou Zhou said gratefully.

You Xuechu glanced at Song Yi, who also said sincerely, “Thank you.”

You Xuechu turned her head away, no longer looking at her, and pressed the remote. The living room TV screen lit up, Animal World.

“Spring has arrived, and it’s time for animals to.” You Xuechu quickly changed the channel to the news, where a groundbreaking report was airing.

“The You Corporation is currently in talks with the foreign pharmaceutical institution AnjiTech, potentially reaching a collaboration. It is reported that AnjiTech has recently developed a new drug that can effectively help omegas better control their pheromones, reducing the influence and dominance of alphas. This news has sparked heated discussions both domestically and internationally. In a society where alphas hold overwhelming power, AnjiTech’s research undoubtedly challenges their authority. Many alphas have spontaneously united in opposition, while more omegas actively voice their support.”

You Xuechu thought to herself that if this drug were truly developed, it would significantly compensate for the physiological disadvantages of omegas, freeing them from alpha oppression and protecting many who were born vulnerable. Even if it couldn’t shield them from harm inflicted by people like Song Yi, it could at least minimize the damage.

In the past, You Xuechu would have immediately changed the channel if she saw her parents on screen. But this collaboration held epoch-making significance, so she kept watching.

After the host finished the report, the screen switched to a handshake and conversation between the You Corporation’s executives and AnjiTech’s representatives.

For the first time in a long while, You Xuechu saw her parents on TV two elders past their fifties, well-maintained and not showing their age. Perhaps because this collaboration promised immense economic benefits, their faces were brimming with smiles, brighter than the sun outside.

A wave of nausea rose uncontrollably in her chest.

The angle shifted, revealing the woman shaking hands with her parents now facing the camera. Her wheatish complexion, deep-set eyes, and irises of an indistinct color exuded both determination and remarkable tolerance. Her conversation with the parents was impeccably polite polished yet transcendent clearly a mixed-race individual of uncertain origin.

You Xuechu couldn’t help but stare a little longer. Since Song Yi and Zhou Zhou were both occupied, watching the news was her only way to pass the time.

The segment covered international markets, so the conversations were all in English. It reminded You Xuechu of her childhood when her parents took her abroad to broaden her horizons. Back then, she had no idea they were grooming her as their successor, she only knew how happy she felt following them around.

Even now, she had no interest in the world of business. She simply hadn’t grown into the person they’d hoped for.

Her gaze lingered on the mixed-race woman on screen, this was the kind of daughter her parents had wanted.

Suddenly, she saw her mother abruptly ask the woman, “Miss An, are you still single? I have a daughter studying at university back home, just a few years younger than you.”

The woman seemed caught off guard, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes before she quickly regained her composure. Raising her left hand, she revealed a modest silver ring on her middle finger.

Anyone could tell it was an engagement band, yet her mother pressed further, “Miss An, you’re engaged already?”

“An arrangement from childhood. My apologies,” the woman replied.

Even though she wasn’t there in person, You Xuechu cringed so hard her scalp prickled. She couldn’t take it anymore and turned off the TV immediately.

Even if they’re worried I’ll end up alone, did they really have to scout for potential partners in a foreign business setting?!

On the other side of the room, Song Yi and Zhou Zhou were sitting on the couch, rummaging through a first-aid kit for a bandage. After digging through the bottom layers, Zhou Zhou carefully helped apply it to Song Yi’s wound.

The abrupt silence from the TV made the whole world seem to pause. Both instinctively turned to look at You Xuechu, whose face was inexplicably flushed, her eyes burning with anger and something else Song Yi couldn’t decipher.

Did she actually take a liking to Zhou Zhou? Is she jealous because Zhou Zhou helped me with the bandage? Song Yi wondered.

Zhou Zhou, too, began second-guessing herself. Did I overstep by tending to Miss Song? I should’ve let Miss You handle it. She quickly put distance between herself and Song Yi.

You Xuechu snapped, “Why are you both staring at me?”

“Go shower. Didn’t you say there were bugs in the grass?” She propped her elbows on the table, cupping her flushed cheeks in a poor attempt to hide it.

This is so embarrassing. They definitely heard Mom trying to set me up just now.

Zhou Zhou nodded hastily and hurried upstairs without another glance at Song Yi.

Song Yi remained seated, still watching You Xuechu, who glared back. “You can use your old room again. Just this once.”

With a complicated expression, Song Yi murmured, “Thanks,” and headed upstairs as well.

Left alone in the living room, You Xuechu stewed in her embarrassment a while longer before checking the time. She texted the villa’s housekeeper: The housekeeper can come cook now. Bring fresh ingredients.

The villa housekeeper was surprised when she saw the message, as Miss You rarely contacted her. It was usually the housekeeper who, worried about Miss You being alone at home, would visit under the pretext of checking if the villa facilities needed maintenance to see how Miss You was doing. Miss You never made things difficult for her.

She replied: “Rest assured, Miss You. I’ll arrange it right away.”

Song Yi went upstairs to the second floor, trying hard to recall which room the original scumbag Alpha had used. Embarrassingly, she couldn’t remember anything. When she had read the novel, she hadn’t paid attention to such details, especially those concerning the original scumbag Alpha.

Zhou Zhou went upstairs to her room to take a quick shower. Seeing that it was almost noon and time to prepare lunch, she didn’t want to delay. After showering, she changed into a clean set of orange loungewear that Miss You’s villa housekeeper had brought over the night before.

She quickly tidied up, leaving her hair in a neat round bun since it wasn’t messy, she didn’t bother taking it down. Hurrying downstairs to cook, she unexpectedly saw Miss Song pacing back and forth in the hallway outside, as if searching for something.

“Miss Song?” Zhou Zhou called out in pleasant surprise. She had thought Miss Song would go back to her own place to shower, never expecting her to still be here.

Song Yi noticed Zhou Zhou dressed in comfortable loungewear and reflected that she should prepare some for her too. Zhou Zhou’s hair was tied up in an adorable bun the first time Song Yi had seen her with all her hair pulled back, revealing her smooth, full forehead and fair nape.

Her gaze lingered as she asked, “Can I borrow your room to take a shower?”

Zhou Zhou hesitated but nodded. Pressed for time, she quickly said, “This is the room. Please make yourself at home, Miss Song. I need to go downstairs to cook.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to leave, but Song Yi grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

“Miss Song?” Zhou Zhou froze.

Song Yi pulled Zhou Zhou into the room and pressed her against the door. Leaning close to her ear, she whispered, “The scent patch, you forgot again.”

Zhou Zhou reached up to touch the back of her neck. With Miss Song trapping her against the wall, the space felt cramped, the air thin. She explained softly, “I didn’t forget. I just don’t have any scent patches with me. The ones you gave me were left at home. I left in a hurry last time and didn’t bring them.”

“I have some here.” Song Yi reached into her pocket. She had made a special trip upstairs that morning to fetch them.

With one hand cradling the back of Zhou Zhou’s head, Song Yi gently guided her to lean forward, burying her face against her shoulder. Zhou Zhou’s breath, warm through the thin fabric of her shirt, seeped into her skin.

Had Zhou Zhou been wearing lipstick, it would surely have left a mark on Song Yi’s warm yellow shirt.

Applying a scent patch should have been the simplest of actions just peel off the packaging and stick it on, taking less than a minute. But Song Yi moved slowly.

Zhou Zhou heard the sound of Miss Song tearing open the packaging, but the exposed gland on her nape remained untouched by the patch. She could even feel Miss Song’s scorching breath against her skin, making her shift uneasily.

Miss Song also buried her face against Zhou Zhou’s shoulder, their pulses beating close where their necks touched.

“Don’t move. Give me five minutes.” Song Yi quietly inhaled the faint cherry scent emanating from the omega’s gland not strong enough to worry about You Xuechu downstairs catching a whiff.

Zhou Zhou’s heart raced, but she obediently closed her eyes.

She realized Miss Song needed the comfort of her pheromones. She had promised Dr. Ding to take good care of Miss Song and shouldn’t have left in the first place. But Miss Song, afraid of hurting her, had insisted. Not wanting to make things difficult for her, Zhou Zhou had agreed to stay at Miss You’s place for a few days.

Now Miss Song needed her just for five minutes, merely five minutes. No matter what, she had to fulfill that request.

Song Yi buried her face against Zhou Zhou’s neck, inhaling the sweet scent of cherries. Gradually, her mind settled into tranquility. Compared to yesterday, she had much better control this time, and the original scoundrel Alpha within her showed no signs of stirring.

Time flowed quietly by. Zhou Zhou sensed that more than five minutes had passed, yet she didn’t remind Song Yi, who was completely lost in the moment, oblivious to the time.

Until You Xuechu’s voice sounded from outside the door. “Song Yi?”

The two of them swiftly pulled apart, each hurriedly straightening their clothes, an inexplicable tension hanging in the air as if they were on the verge of being caught in some illicit affair.

“Strange, where is Song Yi?” You Xuechu muttered in confusion, pacing outside Zhou Zhou’s door. She had just come from the room Song Yi used to sleep in, but she wasn’t there. Worried about Zhou Zhou, she decided to check on her.

As she approached Zhou Zhou’s door, she caught a faint whiff of cherry fragrance and quickly realized it was Zhou Zhou’s pheromones.

You Xuechu had a unique constitution omega pheromones didn’t affect her much, and she was more inclined to pursue relationships with alphas.

She knocked on the door. “Zhou Zhou, are you alright?”

Through the thick, soundproof door, Zhou Zhou replied with flushed cheeks, “I’m fine.”

“Song Yi hasn’t been bothering you, has she?”

Zhou Zhou lowered her head, her peripheral gaze flickering toward Miss Song. “No.”

“That’s good.”

Song Yi: “…”

Her reputation in You Xuechu’s mind was truly terrible. But the fact was, she was in Zhou Zhou’s room right now, and the atmosphere grew even more awkward with Zhou Zhou’s lie.

Song Yi genuinely felt the illusion of sneaking around.

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