The White Moonlight is Both Competitive and Predatory - Chapter 12

“Wait five minutes for me, okay?”

“Tuberose.”

“It’s an intensely complex white floral scent, heavier and more viscous than gardenia or jasmine. I’d describe it as the gateway where carnality and decadence converge.”

Time silently rewound in the quiet. During his student days, Yan Chi sat attentively at his desk, his dark hair and eyes standing out among the sea of white faces in the classroom.

“Heavy, viscous.” Yan Chi sat upright, envisioning the layers of tuberose’s fragrance in his mind.

The professor distributed scent strips while saying, “From bitter-sweet to decay, you must learn to deconstruct it with your own sense of smell. My dears, it will surely be a remarkable journey.”

Lifting his pen from the paper, Yan Chi reached out to take the thin strip. The lingering moisture had spread across a large area, and the perfume essence clung to his fingertips.

Yan Chi had always been a focused listener. Just as he was about to lower his head to inhale the scent, a breeze from outside carried an aroma that reached him before the tuberose did.

It was April, the height of Grasse’s rose season. Red and white blooms filled the sky, magnificent and overwhelming, scattering with the wind. Yan Chi was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t distinguish the fragrance right before him.

“By the way, Professor, you love telling romantic stories the most. Do you have one today? Why not share the flower’s meaning with us?” a student asked.

Instantly, the classroom erupted into playful chatter, everyone urging the professor to share more.

The professor laughed heartily. “A flower’s meaning is countless. It can be whatever you believe it to be it’s highly subjective.”

“What about the most famous one?” Yan Chi, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but ask.

He looked up, and in his gaze, the professor considerately closed the window.

The wind stopped, and the roses were shut out.

The space shifted from clamor to silence, and the professor finally spoke:

“The most famous one? If I remember correctly, it’s probably ‘dangerous temptation.'”

“My pheromones are tuberose.”

Ji Yueting’s eyes were deep and unfathomable. Fragments from that past classroom suddenly flashed before Yan Chi’s eyes, making him feel as if the surrounding temperature was rising.

He couldn’t smell the alpha’s intense pheromones and knew someone of Ji Yueting’s status wouldn’t allow their pheromones to leak freely. Yet, at this moment, Yan Chi inexplicably felt immersed in a heavy, inescapable scent.

White roses, tuberose. How could one person’s pheromones carry two floral notes strong enough to be dominant?

“Teacher Xiao Chi, did you remember?” Ji Yueting addressed him politely as “Teacher Xiao Chi,” but his actions were anything but. Like the strictest teacher in school, he stared down at the student, unwilling to relent until he received an answer.

As luck would have it, he had indeed encountered a model student.

Yan Chi gave up overthinking and nodded. “I remembered.”

Hearing this, Ji Yueting lifted the corner of his mouth and finally released his grip. Chi Chi plopped to the ground with a thud, leisurely shaking its fur.

Yan Chi’s heart trembled along with it.

Although this act of mischief was rather clumsy, at least he had gotten a verbal confirmation from the person himself, so it wasn’t entirely fruitless. However, Ji Yueting had been too close earlier, and the faint, elusive alpha pheromones had made Yan Chi uncomfortable. Seizing the moment when Ji Yueting wasn’t paying attention, he quietly moved to a nearby high stool.

There has always been a barrier between different genders, and nowadays, couples consisting of AO or BO pairings are common in society, while AB pairings remain a minority. The reason is simple: even though betas cannot smell an alpha’s pheromones, the instinct ingrained in their genes to seek advantage and avoid harm still drives them to stay away from high-ranking alphas to ensure their own safety.

Yan Chi had never experienced this subtle sense of “fear” before this was his first time.

“Earlier, when you stepped out to make a call, was it something urgent at the company?”

“A meeting came up suddenly, and I need to attend, so I have to leave now.” Ji Yueting didn’t notice Yan Chi’s small movements. Instead, he tucked the cat back into its carrier. Chichi wasn’t cooperating, splaying its limbs wide. Fortunately, alphas possess both strength and skill; otherwise, it would have been difficult to manage. “Do you have work this afternoon?”

Yan Chi pulled a nearby cushion to support his knees. “Yes, I still have several drafts to finalize. I’ll try to finish them this afternoon.”

“If you don’t need to finish everything in one go, don’t stay too late. Rest early today. Next time, the kids at the welfare center might worry if they see you looking tired.” Ji Yueting held the cat carrier and steered the conversation back.

Yan Chi was momentarily taken aback, then a faint smile appeared, his dimples deepening. “Alright, I really shouldn’t stay up late again today.”

As they stepped outside, Yan Chi bent down to touch the kitten’s paw through the carrier one last time before straightening up. Ji Yueting suddenly said, “Yan Chi, if you ever run into trouble you can’t handle, you can come to me.” His tone was casual, as if offering ordinary concern.

“Why bring that up all of a sudden?” Yan Chi was surprised.

Ji Yueting raised an eyebrow slightly. “Just a guess.”

Yan Chi hadn’t planned to say anything. He prided himself on being skilled at concealing his emotions, but at that moment, with just a glance exchanged, Ji Yueting paused.

The alpha turned to face him, not speaking, simply waiting quietly.

“Don’t you have anything else you want to say to me?”

Yan Chi pursed his lips.

“Then I’ll go?”

“Wait… Ji Yueting,” Yan Chi took a step forward. “Do you know any really good lawyers? The kind who handle divorce cases?” He wasn’t used to asking others for help and felt uneasy as he spoke.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, Ji Yueting replied, “Yes, I know someone. So that’s why you haven’t been resting well? I’ll send you her contact details later.” In a few quick steps, the matter was already resolved in his mind.

“That’s part of it,” Yan Chi said vaguely. “Aren’t you going to ask who needs it?”

He wasn’t trying to voluntarily reveal his private affairs, but in the past, whenever he sought help from others, they would inevitably probe deeper with a few more questions. Yan Chi wasn’t good at lying and always felt inferior in such situations, often ending up telling the truth. Over time, after repeated experiences, he had grown somewhat averse to that feeling of being pulled and dragged into revealing more.

“That’s your private matter. Anyway, it’s not you, right?” Ji Yueting didn’t press further, simply joking lightly.

Yan Chi nodded. “Of course. I’ve consulted a few lawyers before, but it didn’t go well. Once this matter is resolved smoothly, I’ll treat you to a meal, or something else you’d like.” Since it was a gesture of gratitude, it was only right to choose something the other person would enjoy.

Ji Yueting wasn’t one to stand on ceremony. “A meal sounds good, but I get to pick the time and place. Is that okay?”

Since he had suggested it, Yan Chi naturally agreed. Their back-and-forth conversation was perfectly timed with a soft meow from Chichi.

At this point, two-thirds of those present had cast their votes in favor.

“Next time, don’t feel embarrassed. If you need me, just say so I won’t refuse.” Ji Yueting’s mood had improved considerably.

Yan Chi didn’t want to be overly hesitant either, but perhaps because the person in question was too special, he couldn’t help asking, “Every time? You won’t find it annoying?”

“With others, maybe, but not with you,” Ji Yueting replied. “Aren’t we friends? It’s just a small favor.”

Yan Chi’s emotions rose and fell, uncertain and unsettled, when he saw Ji Yueting raise a hand, brushing it lightly past his ear through the sultry summer breeze, and say with a laugh:

“Teacher Xiao Chi, your ears are red.”

“Ms. Yan, that’s the plan I’ve proposed. What do you think?” Lawyer Chen’s expression was gentle. “We’ve discussed quite a bit online before. Given the current situation, there’s no need for you to worry too much.”

Yan Fei took a sip of her iced coffee and relaxed. “I think it’s great. Honestly, when Xiao Chi showed it to me earlier, I already thought it was fine. Lawyer Chen, you’re so busy I hope this trip hasn’t interfered with your other work?”

Lawyer Chen shook his head. “You and Mr. Yan are my clients. This is all part of my duty.”

Lawyer Chen had been recommended by Ji Yueting. He was exceptionally efficient, sharp in his work, available around the clock, and his level of dedication occasionally made even Yan Chi feel a bit embarrassed. Yan Chi had even asked Ji Yueting about it and felt slightly reassured only after receiving the reply, “Lawyer Chen really does love his work.”

“Then let’s leave it at that for now. If there are any changes, we can discuss them over WeChat. Thank you for making the trip, Lawyer Chen,” Yan Chi said, taking the packaged cake handed over by the server. “Just a little afternoon snack I ordered a chocolate mille-feuille. I hope you like it.”

“I do, thank you, Mr. Yan.” Lawyer Chen stood up politely, quickly gathered his documents, and left, clearly busy with work.

Yan Chi asked the café staff for some coffee grounds to take back to his studio for small crafts in his spare time, but before he could even turn the steering wheel, Yan Fei insisted on taking him home.

“Xiao Chi, how long has it been since you came home for a meal? Your aunt gets so bored alone,” Yan Fei teased him, now that a weight had been lifted from her mind. “You’ve been so busy lately could it be you’re in a relationship? I’ve noticed you’ve been checking your phone much more often than before.”

Yan Chi flinched. “Nothing like that, Auntie. Don’t accuse me unfairly.”

He just chatted with Ji Yueting occasionally it wasn’t that frequent, was it?

“How is that unfair? It’s a good thing,” Yan Fei didn’t press further, smiling warmly. “If there is someone, you must bring them to meet me. I wonder what kind of person you’d choose. Family background and appearance aren’t the most important as long as you like them, that’s what matters.”

What kind of person?

This question had never been within Yan Chi’s realm of consideration before, but when Yan Fei suddenly asked, he couldn’t help but think about it. And as he did, a vague figure surfaced in his mind broad-shouldered, tall, with a deep and focused gaze when looking at him, head slightly lowered.

Yan Chi shivered all over, his ears burning.

“Xiao Chi, what’s wrong?” Yan Fei asked.

“Nothing, just a bit tired and lost in thought.” Yan Chi quickly brushed past the earlier topic and began finding ways to cheer up Yan Fei.

He had a sweet tongue, and once Yan Fei was in a good mood, she no longer dwelled on the matter of him finding a partner.

After a long day of coming and going, it was already deep into the night by the time Yan Chi left Yan Fei’s home. He was still driving the Aston Martin from earlier that day. As he passed the coffee shop he had visited in the afternoon, a sudden craving struck him. At the traffic light, he hesitated for half a minute before finally turning back to buy a chocolate mille-feuille.

Just then, a message from Ji Yueting arrived.

Ji Yueting: [Image]

Ji Yueting: “How can they mess up such a simple report?”

Ji Yueting: “I want to go home.”

Ji Yueting’s messages were always casual from sending cat photos at the beginning to now, where almost nothing was off-limits. What he had for lunch, which meal unexpectedly tasted great, whether work was going smoothly, how late he was working overtime at the office, whether the chubby cat greeted him warmly when he got home. Not wanting to travel for work, wanting to clock out, wishing he could give his subordinates brains with more wrinkles Ji Yueting never put on any airs with Yan Chi. His relaxed, carefree tone was exactly the same as it had been in high school.

All these private, unshared details were poured into their chat, woven one by one into a net that Yan Chi couldn’t bear to break free from.

Yan Chi: “How much longer until you’re done?”

Ji Yueting: “If I just interrupt them now, it could end right away.”

Ji Yueting: “But I have to give them feedback, otherwise the project will slow down.”

Ji Yueting added: “And I can’t be too harsh. The person in charge is timid he stutters as soon as he gets nervous. I just looked down to type for a bit, and he’s already stumbled three times.”

Returning the favor, Yan Chi snapped a photo inside the car and sent it.

Yan Chi: “About to head home. Once I pass this intersection, I’ll be right by your company.”

Ji Yueting, ever unconventional, asked: “What’s that little box in the bottom left corner?”

Yan Chi replied: “Chocolate mille-feuille.”

Almost as if possessed, he added: “Do you want some?”

It was too late to take it back. Ji Yueting responded decisively: “Yes.”

Eat? Eat cake? How much? With whom?

Yan Chi panicked, but words spoken were like water spilled especially since he was the one who had brought it up.

As if afraid Yan Chi might regret it, Ji Yueting said: “Wait five minutes for me, okay?”

Yan Chi couldn’t help but facepalm, already picturing the terrified look on the person in charge’s face when abruptly interrupted.

The light turned green. The instigator of this mess had no choice but to press the voice message button: “But. I don’t think I can drive through the gate of your company.”

The chocolate mille-feuille jiggled slightly as the car went over a speed bump. Yan Chi reached out to steady it, his eyes widening as he read the message that followed.

Ji Yueting: “Your license plate was registered the first day you dropped me off.”

Ji Yueting: “Yan Chi, wait for me downstairs.”