The Fox Spirit Survived as an Alpha by Consuming Pheromones - Chapter 5

Jiang Li tilted her head, looking at Qin Nian with a flicker of confusion before her face broke into a bright smile. “I am a fox spirit. It’s not a reincarnation; it’s just what I am.”

For a fleeting second, watching her explain with such deadpan sincerity, Bai Muqin actually felt the urge to believe her. The thought vanished as quickly as it came. She couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch Jiang Li’s cheek, teasing, “A fox spirit? With the way you’ve been acting? You’re just a little dummy.” A trace of uncharacteristic doting slipped into her tone.

Qin Nian was so startled by Bai Muqin’s half-scolding, half-pampering voice that she nearly sprayed her porridge. Her eyes darted between the two of them, a mischievous glint appearing. “I don’t know, Sis. I’m starting to buy it. If she isn’t a fox spirit, how do you explain the two of you almost ‘misfiring’ first thing this morning?”

Bai Muqin’s face flushed a deep crimson. Flustered and annoyed, she shot a glare at Qin Nian, who pointedly looked away and hummed a tune. Bai Muqin cleared her throat and feigned cold displeasure. “Eavesdrop on me one more time and see if I don’t have you pack your bags for the old family estate today.”

Qin Nian immediately raised her hands in a mock gesture of surrender. “Sis, I was just kidding! A-Li was clearly just helping you through your symptoms. I promise, never again!”

Bai Muqin neither confirmed nor denied it, continuing her breakfast with practiced elegance.

Noticing that A-Li was just sitting there, seemingly uninterested in the food and only stealing glances at Bai Muqin, Qin Nian pushed a plate of fried dough sticks toward her. “Try some. They’re perfectly crispy while they’re hot. They’re no good once they get cold.”

Jiang Li leaned down to sniff them, then shook her head and pushed the plate back.

Thinking she just didn’t like them, Qin Nian was about to offer some soup dumplings when Jiang Li spoke up. “Thank you, but I’m already full.”

Qin Nian stared at her, then turned a bewildered gaze toward Bai Muqin. She had thought her sister was exaggerating about the girl being “simple,” but this was next-level.

Bai Muqin, however, acted as if this were perfectly normal. “She hasn’t eaten a thing since last night,” she said casually. “We’ll have her fully checked out at the hospital today. Also, book an appointment with Dr. Zhou for me; I need a check-up as well.”

At the hospital, Qin Nian led Jiang Li away for a battery of comprehensive tests while Bai Muqin went directly to see Dr. Zhou. Without Bai Muqin by her side, Jiang Li looked utterly lost. It took a good deal of coaxing from Qin Nian to convince her that she hadn’t been abandoned.

The hospital was thick with the smell of disinfectant and a chaotic mix of faint pheromones, but Jiang Li could still detect a lingering thread of passion fruit in the air. She didn’t cooperate because of Qin Nian’s words; she cooperated because she could feel that Bai Muqin was nearby.

The tests today were far more grueling and complex than the previous night’s. After hours of being poked and prodded, Qin Nian finally gathered a thick stack of reports and led Jiang Li to Dr. Zhou’s office.

Dr. Zhou Yang was a leading authority in AO (Alpha/Omega) medicine and an A-grade Alpha herself. Born into a medical dynasty, her family had been close with the Qins for generations. She had followed in her father’s footsteps, specializing in AO physiology, and had quickly surpassed her mentors.

After examining Bai Muqin’s gland, she scribbled some notes and looked up. “Your gland has returned to a stable state. It seems that ‘person’ you found is highly effective.”

“I’ve studied the monitoring data from your room,” Zhou Yang continued, her voice filled with professional curiosity. “The way she causes your pheromone levels to plummet is… unprecedented. What exactly did she do?”

Bai Muqin didn’t hold back, giving a general account of what happened. She trusted Zhou Yang implicitly; for years, the doctor had been the only one trying to save her from the agony of her heat cycles, even when every conventional method had failed.

Zhou Yang pulled up the data again. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep the monitoring equipment in place for a while longer. Comparing multiple data sets would be invaluable for research.”

“Also,” the doctor added, “your heat shouldn’t return for a few days. Could you leave her here with me for a bit? Just three days, I need to refine some data.”

“Fine. No problem,” Bai Muqin agreed almost instantly.

Zhou Yang let out a sigh of relief. “Don’t worry, I won’t perform any ‘mad scientist’ experiments on her.”

Bai Muqin gave a soft laugh. “I know. By the way, Doctor… can a necrotic gland be repaired?” She asked it casually, as if it were a stray thought.

Zhou Yang adjusted her glasses. “I’d need to examine her personally to give you a definitive answer. But based on historical cases? Most are beyond repair. There’s also a potential issue: if her gland is restored, the unique ability she has now might vanish.”

She paused, looking at Bai Muqin intently. “Do you want her gland restored, Miss Bai? Or…?”

Bai Muqin kept her expression unreadable, but her answer was blunt. “I want her restored. I’m tired of being hunted by my own heat. I’ve finally found an Alpha I don’t instinctively reject; if I can make this permanent, why wouldn’t I?”

Zhou Yang caught the subtext. “Are you sure? Do you want to wait a bit longer? There are rumors that the Jiang family is making moves… they say the second Miss Jiang might be coming back soon.”

Before Bai Muqin could respond, a knock at the door signaled the arrival of Qin Nian and Jiang Li.

The moment Jiang Li spotted Bai Muqin, her sluggish demeanor vanished. She perked up instantly, rushing into the office. The word “Master” was halfway out of her mouth before she caught herself and cleverly chirped, “Miss Bai!”

Bai Muqin nodded in approval and ruffled Jiang Li’s hair. “A-Li, this is Dr. Zhou.”

Jiang Li’s entire body stiffened. She remembered the “butcher” from the previous night—the expressionless doctor in the white coat. She shrank behind Bai Muqin, peeking out with only half her face visible. “Dr. Zhou,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Zhou Yang gave a helpless, wry smile. “Was I that scary last night? I’m sorry. When I’m focused on a check-up, I tend to get a bit intense. Don’t be afraid.”

Jiang Li didn’t say a word, remaining wary. Surrounded by the comforting scent of passion fruit coming from Bai Muqin, she slowly began to calm down.

Qin Nian handed the reports over. “Dr. Zhou, here are A-Li’s results. She has no ID, so we ran them under my name.”

Zhou Yang flipped through the pages, her brow furrowing more with every turn.

“Is something wrong?” Bai Muqin asked.

Zhou Yang pointed to a specific chart. “Look at this. According to these metrics, A-Li’s internal systems and organs have a developmental level… similar to an infant’s. But she’s an adult, roughly twenty-five years old. It’s impossible! Aside from some malnutrition, everything else is ‘normal,’ but the developmental age is a total anomaly. If we hadn’t used the latest tech, we might have missed it.”

The result caught Bai Muqin off guard, but it explained why A-Li had vomited everything she ate. “Does that mean she can’t eat normal food?”

“Theoretically, yes,” Zhou Yang replied. “Her gastrointestinal tract is incredibly delicate. We should start with liquids, like milk. During her stay, I’ll put her on a nutritional IV and gradually introduce milk to see how she handles it.”

She beckoned to Jiang Li. “A-Li, come here. I need to check your gland one more time.”

Jiang Li took one reluctant step forward and stopped, looking piteously at Bai Muqin. “Mas—Miss Bai…”

“I’ll go with you.” Bai Muqin stepped forward, following the doctor into the examination room.

Relieved, Jiang Li followed close behind. Zhou Yang had her lie face down on the table and pulled back her hair. The jagged, ugly scar was a stark contrast to her fair skin.

As the purple light of the scanning device hit the scar, Zhou Yang probed the area with her fingers, her expression grave as she analyzed the real-time data. The sensation was strange—a mix of itching and sharp stings. Jiang Li let out a soft, distressed whimper, wishing the ordeal would end.

The sound hit Bai Muqin like a physical touch, both irritating and strangely stirring. She wanted to comfort her, but she didn’t want to encourage A-Li to be too clingy in front of the doctor. When the machine finally hummed to a halt, she felt a wave of relief.

The moment the exam was over, Jiang Li latched onto Bai Muqin’s sleeve. She had finally processed what “staying in the hospital” meant: she was going to be separated from her Master.

“The full results will take a few days,” Zhou Yang said smoothly. “Why don’t we get A-Li settled into a room? I’ll update you when she’s ready for discharge.”

“Alright. I’ll leave Qin Nian here to look after her,” Bai Muqin said. She was playing it safe, an anomaly like A-Li would be a prize for any researcher. While she trusted Zhou Yang, she wouldn’t leave the girl entirely unguarded.

Jiang Li wasn’t having it. Pulling on Bai Muqin’s coat, she whispered urgently once the doctor stepped out, “Master, I don’t want to stay here. Don’t leave me.”

“Be good. It’s only for three days, then I’ll take you home. Qin Nian will be here. You’ll be safe,” Bai Muqin coaxed.

Jiang Li understood the logic, but her body rebelled. Every cell in her being screamed at the thought of going days without her Master’s delicious scent.

Once the paperwork was done, Bai Muqin made a swift, graceful move, slipping out of her trench coat.

Jiang Li stood there, dazed, clutching the empty coat as Bai Muqin turned on her heels and marched away, her high heels clicking rapidly against the floor.

A tragic wail echoed down the hallway: “MASTER!”

Bai Muqin’s pace quickened. The shout was mortifying, they had specifically agreed not to use that word in public! She could practically feel the nurses’ eyes on her, hiding their smiles. Between the shame and the irritation, whatever guilt she’d felt for leaving vanished instantly.

Qin Nian grabbed Jiang Li to stop her from chasing after her sister. She had been holding in her laughter since the shout, and now that Bai Muqin was out of earshot, she let it out.

“Wow,” Qin Nian chuckled, “you and my sister really have some… interesting hobbies, don’t you?”

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