Scumbag Alpha’s Pheromones Are Toxic - Chapter 26.1

Ji Yao didn’t dare sleep. She held the young Qin Zishu in her arms, waiting atop that ancient tree for an entire night.

Fortune favored them; the floodwaters did not rise further. As dawn broke, rescue finally arrived. The first light of morning spilled over the desolate Mount Kui, soft rays filtering through the tangled branches of the tree, spreading dappled patterns of hope across the ground.

Only when Ji Yao was sent for emergency treatment did she finally allow her taut nerves to slacken. She handed the child to the rescuers and, just before losing consciousness, managed to tell her people—Take this child with us.

“Are you sure you want to take me?” young Qin Zishu had asked, looking skeptical. “I’m not well-behaved at all. I might spend every single day making you angry.”

After waking up, Ji Yao sat by Qin Zishu’s bed and told her: “It doesn’t matter. Make me angry if you want. I want to take you home.”

While Qin Zishu was still processing this, Ji Yao reached out without warning and ruffled her hair. “You aren’t allowed to refuse this time.”

“Fine,” Qin Zishu had agreed reluctantly. “But I hope you don’t regret this decision when you’re actually angry later.”

Fast forward to the present day.

Ji Yao’s current assessment: I regret it to death.

She pulled away, mercifully releasing the now-adult Qin Zishu. Her lips felt damp and she had been bitten by that ungrateful little wolf cub.

Ji Yao checked with the system in her mind: “Was that five minutes?”

She had kissed her for five minutes straight, effectively completing Task No. 5.

She gazed at Qin Zishu, who was looking back at her with an innocent expression. For a fleeting moment, they seemed to return to how they were years ago. Back when she first brought the rebellious kid home; the girl hadn’t said a single word of thanks, but her eyes had been full of starlight—shimmering and more brilliant than any high-end jewelry.

A sudden inspiration struck Ji Yao. She said to Qin Zishu, “Go about your business tomorrow. I need to head out for a bit to prepare a gift for you.”

Qin Zishu’s interest piqued. “What kind of gift?”

“I’m not telling.”

Ji Yao wanted to find another small figurine. If she couldn’t find the exact model from back then, she would pick a new one. It was time to make up for the one Qin Zishu had lost.

She consulted the system, which scanned the area and confirmed that a shop in Tianfu Square carried something similar. Ji Yao didn’t overthink it and headed out the next morning to pick the gift.

Meanwhile, at an event site, Qin Zishu had just finished her makeup. As the stylist placed a top hat on her, the staff couldn’t help but marvel. The black dress paired with the hat, combined with her naturally cold, aloof aura, gave her a dangerous, “keep away” vibe.

Ji Yao was right; Qin Zishu simply had to stand there to look like she belonged on the cover of a top-tier fashion magazine. A staff member handed her a cane, signaling that they were ready to shoot.

“Sorry everyone, please wait a moment.” Lou Juan squeezed through the crowd and glanced at her from a distance. “Manager Qin, something needs to be handled first.”

Qin Zishu stepped away from the set. “Is there a problem?”

Lou Juan looked uneasy. “Ji Yao went to Tianfu Square. I just heard that Elder Zhong is there today as well. It’s likely not a coincidence. He’s headed there specifically for her.”

“I see. I expected as much,” Qin Zishu replied, her expression remaining neutral. “Information can’t stay hidden forever. It’s better to leave the choice to her. I trust her.”

Zhong Huaixing, an elder nearing his 80th birthday, was Ji Yao’s former “mentor.” After her death, he had decisively cut all ties with her name. In past loops, Qin Zishu had tried to take revenge on him, but regardless of whether she succeeded, Ji Yao would always choose to protect him. Eventually, Qin Zishu had stopped bothering with the man.

He was Ji Yao’s mentor, but a thorn in Qin Zishu’s side.

This time, Qin Zishu didn’t intend to interfere. She had intentionally let Ji Yao’s location slip and nudged her toward the place Elder Zhong frequented most, creating an opportunity for them to meet.

She wanted to see if Ji Yao would joyfully rush to greet him. If she did, Qin Zishu would release certain truths to sow discord.

Ji Yao, oblivious to these machinations, was happily shopping. She eventually found herself in the deepest part of Tianfu Square. The shops here weren’t as flashy as the ones at the entrance, but the prices were just as high.

Following the system’s prompt, she entered a shop and easily found the figurine section. To her surprise, this model was still being sold after ten years, though the price had skyrocketed.

Ji Yao tapped the display case. “I’ll take this one.”

The clerk smiled. “Hello. This is a limited-edition collector’s item. It cannot be sold without permission.”

Ji Yao: ???

“What does that even mean? Who needs to give permission? Is this figurine that precious?”

“The item itself is a standard collector’s piece, but.” The clerk paused meaningfully. “Currently, this is the only unpainted unit left in the entire country, so it is treated with extreme care.”

Precious because it’s unpainted.

Ji Yao thought to the system: Do you know what I’m thinking?

[System: What?]

“This feels like a scam specifically designed for me. It’s waiting for me to buy it at a premium just so I can paint it myself.”

[System: Is it not worth it?]

The system’s retort left Ji Yao speechless. Are you secretly working for Qin Zishu just to annoy me? Ji Yao stared at the price tag. “Count the zeros at the end of that number.”

[System: Can your feelings be measured by money?]

Ji Yao: “…” Fine. You’re the noble one.

Suddenly feeling irritable, Ji Yao felt a flush of heat rise to her face, and her lower abdomen began to ache. She figured it was just her period approaching, so she muttered that it was too expensive and turned to leave.

Elsewhere, Qin Zishu was listening to Lou Juan when her expression suddenly shifted.

Lou Juan continued, “Elder Zhong is expected to arrive there in five minutes.” She stopped when she noticed Qin Zishu’s strange look.

Qin Zishu sounded genuinely aggrieved. “She thinks it’s too expensive. She won’t buy it for me. She’s already left the shop.”

Lou Juan: “…” After a moment, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Qin Zishu glared at her. “Stop laughing.”

Lou Juan tried to stifle her giggles. “Maybe we should stop testing her. We’re over here being all serious and calculating, and she’s over there refusing to take the bait. What’s the point?”

“No,” Qin Zishu said with her usual obsession. “I want her to stay. I want to see how her old friend treats her now.”

Just as Qin Zishu said that, Ji Yao noticed a brand ambassador’s poster outside the shop. Wait, isn’t that ME? It’s been ten years! Have they not changed the ambassador? Or did they just forget to take the poster down? Ji Yao felt a surge of horror. Had the clerk inside realized her face was identical to the poster?

Suddenly, the system gave a cold prompt: [Zhong Huaixing will arrive in this area in three minutes.]

Ji Yao: “Zhong Huaixing? Which Zhong Huaixing. Oh! That Zhong Huaixing!!!”

A cold sweat broke out over her skin. “He’s coming here!?”

[System: Indeed.]

This place is cursed, Ji Yao thought. How can I run into everyone I know just by going shopping? She turned and began to run.

The system’s voice was icy: [Are you that excited to see an old friend?]

“Every student has an instinct to fear their teacher,” Ji Yao muttered. “Guide me. Which way should I run? I don’t want to run into him.”

[System: ??]

A minute later, following the system’s navigation, Ji Yao ran at full speed—directly into Elder Zhong.

Ji Yao: “…”

System, you absolute traitor.

[System: Hehe. Task No. 6: Chat with Elder Zhong for half an hour. Please complete immediately.]

“System, I’m starting to seriously doubt your allegiances.”

Elder Zhong’s wheelchair was pushed forward by a young woman. Ji Yao took a step back but was forced to bite the bullet and approach. She hadn’t even thought of an excuse to fool her mentor; “rebirth” was too unbelievable, and “plastic surgery” wouldn’t explain how she could maintain a half-hour conversation with him.

The young woman behind Elder Zhong scanned Ji Yao’s face and her eyes lingered.

Ji Yao noticed the girl’s gaze turning intense and suddenly had an idea. A few seconds later, she winked at the girl and pulled up a friend QR code on her phone screen.

The girl blushed and whispered something to Elder Zhong. He was a kind man who had always loved playing matchmaker for Ji Yao in the past. Ji Yao’s move worked; both Elder Zhong and the girl stopped to look at her.

“We aren’t in a hurry anyway,” Elder Zhong said. “If you like someone, go talk to them.”

The girl nodded shyly and walked toward Ji Yao.

Ji Yao felt zero guilt about “flirting” behind Qin Zishu’s back. She looked at the girl—her name seemed to be Gan Siyu, around the same age as Qin Zishu. Back when Ji Yao used to visit Elder Zhong, she’d often bring this girl treats.

Ji Yao: “…”

I’m starting to wonder what I did wrong. Why is it that when all these little girls grew up, they didn’t see me as an elder, but as a prize?

She asked the system: What did I do wrong? The system ignored her, seemingly fuming at her “wandering eye.”

Meanwhile, at Qin Zishu’s location, a staff member rubbed their arms. “Why is it getting so cold in here? Who changed the AC settings?”

In front of the camera, Qin Zishu’s face was terrifyingly dark.

Ji Yao, blissfully unaware, continued to engage the girl. She believed she was quite skilled at handling shy young women, so she was feeling confident.

Gan Siyu’s first words were: “I really like you. Can we give it a try?”

Ji Yao: ??? Are people these days that direct?

She called out to the system: Help! How do I answer this?

[System: You already have a girlfriend.]

“True,” Ji Yao muttered. “But it’s not like she knows. The task is more important, right, System?” When the system didn’t reply, she added, “Besides, you can’t tell her, and you have no reason to help her, right?”

[System: CPU usage high. System overheating. Please wait.]

Ji Yao smirked. Hehe.

“That’s very direct,” Ji Yao said, looking at Gan Siyu with a touch of shyness. “I’m a bit embarrassed.”

As she spoke, her face actually turned red. But it wasn’t an act. Her abdomen suddenly flared with pain, and the flush intensified.

“Did you bring your suppressants?” Gan Siyu asked with concern.

Ji Yao was confused. Suppressants?

“She hasn’t differentiated yet,” Elder Zhong, who had been observing, suddenly spoke up. “But looking at the current situation, she might be undergoing differentiation right now.”

“It’s fine,” Gan Siyu said. “I brought plenty of suppressants and scent-blocking patches.”

“No,” Elder Zhong tapped the armrest of his wheelchair. “You cannot use those to forcibly suppress a first differentiation. Do you want her to die?”

“Oh. Well, that’s fine too,” Gan Siyu said. “I’m an Alpha.”

Ji Yao looked up, clutching her stomach. “What if I differentiate into an Alpha too?”

Gan Siyu gave a shy smile. “I wouldn’t mind becoming an Omega for the sake of love.”

Ji Yao: “Maybe I should just go to the hospital.”

“Nonsense,” Elder Zhong replied. “Differentiation is as natural as a tree budding. If you go to the hospital, the doctors can’t stop it anyway.”

“Then what do I do now?” Ji Yao asked.

“Find a secluded spot and wait it out,” Elder Zhong said. “It’ll be over in a moment.”

Though this farcical encounter wasn’t exactly a “chat with Elder Zhong” in the traditional sense, it counted as a conversation nonetheless. Ji Yao glanced at the time; she only had ten minutes left to complete her task.

“Manager Qin, traffic is backed up ahead. It’ll probably be another ten minutes before we arrive,” the driver said, glancing at Qin Zishu in the rearview mirror with a lingering sense of fear.

When Qin Zishu first got into the car, her expression had been so dark it was terrifying; he honestly thought she was on her way to collect someone’s soul. She hadn’t even had time to change out of the black evening gown provided by the brand; she had only hurriedly snatched off her hat before rushing out to find Ji Yao. Now, looking down, she realized she was still clutching the decorative cane from the shoot.

Qin Zishu: “…”

Lou Juan had been frantically explaining things to the brand representatives on the phone and only now managed to hang up. She looked at Qin Zishu and sighed. Compared to the Ji Yao of the past, this girl was truly a handful.

Qin Zishu shot her a look that said: If you had lived through this many loops, you wouldn’t have much patience left either.

Lou Juan: “…” Fair point.

Ten minutes later, Ji Yao finally reached her limit.

She had never undergone differentiation before, and this delayed process was nearly killing her. As the internal heat surged, it felt as if her very nerves were being pulled taut. Every movement brought a wave of pain, her limbs feeling as though they were filled with leaden acid; even the simple act of raising her arm felt like an impossible feat.

Elder Zhong instructed Gan Siyu to pick Ji Yao up and carry her toward the mall’s VIP lounge. Ji Yao clung to the girl, a small, choked sob escaping her through gritted teeth.

Nearby, Qin Zishu arrived with her entourage. Her black gown wasn’t long, but it was still an encumbrance; heedless of her image, she hiked up the skirt with one hand and sprinted in her high heels. Bystanders were aghast—they had never seen someone run so gracefully, yet so fast, in stilettos.

Lou Juan followed closely, long since used to such antics.

When Qin Zishu saw Ji Yao being carried away, her face fell. A dense, terrifying aura of hostility radiated from her. Only a thin thread of reason prevented her from snatching Ji Yao back by force.

“Give her to me,” Qin Zishu said coldly to Gan Siyu. “She’s mine.”

Gan Siyu shifted her stance to shield Ji Yao. “She doesn’t seem to have a partner.”

“She’s my girlfriend,” Qin Zishu hissed.

“Who doesn’t know ‘The’ Qin Zishu?” Gan Siyu retorted. “Since when have you ever admitted to having a girlfriend in public? Given your reputation, I think it’s more likely you’ve just taken a fancy to her and want a new ‘canary’.”

Qin Zishu gestured to her black evening gown. “Do you think I’d abandon a room full of staff and run this far without even changing my clothes just because I ‘took a fancy’ to someone?”

Gan Siyu still refused to yield. “She didn’t contact anyone just now. How did you know she was here?”

Qin Zishu’s aura dropped another several degrees. If looks could kill, Gan Siyu would have died a thousand times over.

“Did you plant a listening device on her?” Gan Siyu pressed. “If so, I’m even less inclined to hand her over. Who knows what dark hobbies someone like you has? You claim she’s a lover, but you’ll probably just lock her in a dark room once you get her home.”

Just as Qin Zishu’s patience reached its breaking point, Zhong Huaixing spoke up. “Siyu, give the girl to her.”

“Oh,” Gan Siyu muttered.

Qin Zishu took Ji Yao and, before Lou Juan or the others could enter, slammed the door and turned the lock.

Lou Juan, nearly hitting the door with her nose: “…” Fine. She cleared her throat and turned to the guards. “We’ll just watch the door.”

Inside, Qin Zishu was so livid her vision was blurring. Yet Ji Yao, half-delirious from the heat, only looked at her with hazy, unfocused eyes.