What Should I Do If My Ex-Girlfriend's Pheromones Smell Too Good? - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Provocation: “Are You… Inviting Me?”

Facing the shocked stares of the crowd, Su Heyi explained, “We are biological sisters. One took our mother’s surname and the other our father’s. There’s a three-year age difference.”

Jin Yan blurted out, “You don’t really look alike.”

Su Heyi flushed slightly. “My sister is much better looking.”

Jin Yan quickly interjected, “No, no, that’s not what I meant…”

“Don’t be nervous, Junior,” He Xuchou said with a smile, stepping in to smooth things over. “Many people say we don’t look like sisters, but our physiques are very similar.”

He Xuchou’s short hair was clean and sharp, but her features were delicate and refined, habitually carrying a trace of a smile. As she spoke, she took off her loose jacket; only then did everyone notice that she was actually a muscular female Alpha of the same type as Su Heyi.

Jin Yan opened her mouth and then closed it again. Had He Xuchou taken off her jacket earlier, there would have been no need to guess their relationship—the resemblance between the sisters reached nearly seventy percent.

Chang Xichun giggled behind her hand. “The younger sister is just as cute as He Xuchou.”

Shu Qiong felt deeply that this Omega senior had a very special aura—the aura of someone who flirts with everyone.

Sure enough, Su Heyi’s face turned bright red.

He Xuchou asked her helplessly, “Did you tell them what Instructor Chu assigned?”

After the assessment, Chu Yimeng had received a meeting notice and left in a hurry. Before leaving, she had asked the two main team members to familiarize the new members with their future training model, but Chang Xichun had been so busy adding Shu Qiong as a friend that she completely forgot.

Chang Xichun shifted her gaze guiltily. Seeing this, He Xuchou sighed. “I’ll explain. There aren’t many days left this week. Friday and Saturday are for everyone to coordinate their classes and make free arrangements. Starting next week, the main team members will go to the ‘Eaglet Program’ single-soldier training camp for special training. We have to head to the base early on Sunday. Substitutes are not required to participate, so you can choose whether or not to follow the team.”

Her gaze swept over everyone before she continued, “The training lasts for fourteen days and is quite intense, so be mentally prepared. We will be training with the best from various academies in the Alliance. We will encounter our Inter-High League opponents there ahead of time, so pay attention and observe during training.”

Everyone’s wristbands vibrated. He Xuchou had posted the schedule she recorded during last year’s training to the school team group chat. “Take a look when you have time. By the way, this year Shu Qiong is the only one in our main team who isn’t a single-soldier. You’ll need to work extra hard during the training camp. If there’s anything you find difficult to adapt to or if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Shu Qiong immediately felt a mountain of pressure. “Okay, I’ll do my best not to fall behind!”

As she spoke, she could almost envision the physical training looming like a mountain range; she already felt short of breath.

Yan Xiangyu lightly brushed her pinky against Shu Qiong’s. “I’ll be with you.”

Touched, Shu Qiong brushed back.

Chang Xichun’s voice cut in: “Junior, I’ll be with you too!” Physical fitness wasn’t her forte either.

“…Thank you, Senior.”

The two pinkies that were a step away from intertwining separated in a second.

Chang Xichun continued, “A-Chou, Little Qin Liang, and I participated once last year. Of course, the projects vary slightly every year, but the overall intensity is roughly the same. My biggest advice is—”

Everyone pricked up their ears, waiting for the rest.

Qin Liang had already guessed what she was going to say and turned her head away, unable to watch.

Chang Xichun said solemnly, “Be sure to remember to bring several extra sets of clothes. You sweat a lot during training, and they don’t issue training uniforms there.”

The crowd didn’t know what expression to make. Only Jin Yan nodded seriously, feeling a strong sense of resonance.

“Alright.” He Xuchou ended the topic. “Let’s disperse. The school will provide a chartered starship for pickup on Sunday morning. Don’t be late. Remember to keep an eye on the group messages.”

On Sunday morning, the main team gathered early. This year, among the substitutes, only Jin Yan signed up for the training camp. Su Heyi had consulted with the instructor and decided it was more cost-effective to spend her time on her other weaknesses for now. The other substitutes also had their own plans and chose to skip the camp.

Instructor Chu Yimeng, the team leader, finished the head count and fell silent while looking at the large backpacks carried by the three freshmen—Shu Qiong and her friends.

Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you bring so much stuff?”

Jin Yan opened her backpack suspiciously to show the instructor. “Senior Chang suggested we bring several extra sets of clothes…”

Instructor Chu’s brow twitched. “You actually believed her?”

The three ignorant juniors immediately looked up, their eyes full of questioning.

Chang Xichun, who had only brought a small handbag for daily necessities, said righteously, “I was tricked like this by the seniors last year too! This is a tradition—a Military University tradition!”

Qin Liang also grinned. Her experience of being pranked last year still rankled, so she winked at the others. “You can prank your juniors next year and keep our tradition alive.”

“…”

The training was organized by the military, and no information could be found online. The seniors’ advice was their only reference. If someone intended to trick them, it was a guaranteed success.

The hovercar began to slow down as they reached the starship docking point. Adhering to the self-consolation of “since we already brought it,” they decided to lug the heavy backpacks onto the starship.

Once inside, they found that there were already people in the main hall—other Military University students who had signed up for the training, about thirty of them, sitting scattered about. Even after the school team entered, the hall remained spacious. Besides the students, only Instructor Chu and a mobile medical team were traveling to the base.

Upon seeing a familiar school doctor, Shu Qiong and Yan Xiangyu both froze, recalling a certain scene. The doctor also saw them, but said nothing, merely nodding a greeting before entering the specialized medical workstation on the ship. she needed to quickly check if the accompanying equipment and medicine were complete.

Shu Qiong’s fingertips curled slightly. After stowing her backpack, she found a random seat against the wall. Feeling the cushion of the seat beside her sink under weight, she turned and spoke, “Is your back recovered?”

“Hmm? What’s wrong with my back?” Chang Xichun’s confused voice came from beside her ear.

Shu Qiong’s face heated up, and she gave a dry laugh. “No… nothing. I thought you were Yan Xiangyu.”

Chang Xichun looked at her reddening cheeks with a grin. “Oh~ so what happened to Junior Yan’s back? I’ve seen the gossip about you two on the forum. Are you really exes? You seem to get along quite well.”

Shu Qiong gave a soft “Mm.” “I just remembered she strained her back during training and asked on a whim.”

Chang Xichun’s smile remained as she teased, “You’re not honest at all, Junior. Tell you what, call me ‘Sister,’ promise to have a dynamic target shooting match with me, and I’ll let you off the hook.”

Shu Qiong smiled too. “Sister Chang, isn’t it enough that I agree?”

Chang Xichun moved on, satisfied. Noticing Yan Xiangyu lingering not far away, she patted Shu Qiong’s shoulder. “Alright, I won’t take your Little Yan’s seat. Bye~” With that, she got up and sat down next to He Xuchou. The two whispered a few words, with He Xuchou looking gentle and nodding occasionally.

As a familiar scent approached, Shu Qiong turned her head; this time, it really was Yan Xiangyu. Yan Xiangyu stood in the aisle by the seat, showing no intention of sitting down, looking down at Shu Qiong. “Can I sit?”

Shu Qiong found it funny. “You need my permission for this?”

Yan Xiangyu twitched the corner of her mouth. “Just afraid your Sister Chang might turn back, and I wouldn’t want her to say I don’t respect my seniors.”

Shu Qiong was speechless. How was this person’s hearing so selective? She patted the seat beside her and said intentionally, “Sit, Sister Yan. I saved this seat especially for you.”

Yan Xiangyu pursed her lips and looked at her. Shu Qiong quickly withdrew her hand, acting as if she didn’t care whether she sat or not.

“What did you just call me?” Yan Xiangyu sat down leisurely. “I didn’t hear clearly. Say it again.”

Shu Qiong blinked twice. “I called you Yan Xiangyu. Yan Xiangyu, Yan Xiangyu. Hear it now?”

Yan Xiangyu gave a light laugh and didn’t dwell on it. She turned her gaze toward Chang Xichun and He Xuchou and said pointedly, “Those two seniors are very close. They probably aren’t just ordinary friends.” So don’t get too close to other Omegas.

Shu Qiong looked over as well and gave an “Mm.” Whether she understood the implication, Yan Xiangyu couldn’t tell, only hearing her suddenly ask: “So, is your back fully healed?”

“Hmm?” Yan Xiangyu was startled, her features softening as she turned her head. “Does Student Shu want to check for herself?”

She actually started taking off her clothes.

Shu Qiong’s brow jumped. “Don’t be cheeky.”

“It’s too hot in the starship; I’m just taking off my jacket,” Yan Xiangyu explained with a smile. “It healed a long time ago. The medicine you applied was very effective.”

Seeing her acting smug again, Shu Qiong gave a “Heh.” “Feel free to call me if you need it in the future. You’ve experienced my technique, Student Yan; how did it feel?”

Yan Xiangyu’s movements paused, and a suspicious flush crept onto her ears. “It… it was good.”

“…”

Shu Qiong really wanted to mock her, but she stubbornly met Yan Xiangyu’s gaze. “It’s just that the patient’s self-control isn’t great. It interfered with my performance a bit.”

Because of that, she had hurriedly finished applying the medicine and fled that day.

Yan Xiangyu’s eyes darkened instantly. “Knowing my self-control is poor, Student Shu is still provoking me?”

Shu Qiong was defeated; she couldn’t compete with this person’s thick skin. However, she had figured out a coping mechanism: she had to be even bolder.

Thus, Shu Qiong feigned a calm smile. “How did I provoke you? Go ahead and explain; I’m listening humbly.”

But Yan Xiangyu didn’t play by the rules, choosing instead to use action to prove just how poor her self-control was. She took hold of Shu Qiong’s right hand—the one with calluses from shooting—and lifted her gaze, looking directly into Shu Qiong’s amber eyes.

Shu Qiong’s mind went blank for a moment. She was just talking big; she didn’t expect Yan Xiangyu to actually make a move!

Yan Xiangyu gazed at Shu Qiong’s face at close range, not missing a single subtle change in her expression. If she detected even a hint of disgust, she would decisively stop. But Shu Qiong didn’t pull away—perhaps she was just stunned, or perhaps she was allowing it.

Slowly, Yan Xiangyu lifted the index finger Shu Qiong used to pull the trigger, brought it to her lips, and touched it as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the water.

Shu Qiong couldn’t help her finger curling inward, but she quickly restrained the urge to pull away and hide her face, not wanting to show cowardice. She flashed a provocative smile. “Is that all?”

“Are you,” Yan Xiangyu tightened her grip on Shu Qiong’s hand, her dark eyes looking more like a dangerous predator before a meal than a lover’s gaze, “invoking me?”

Shu Qiong’s body tensed. There was no doubt that the focus of Yan Xiangyu’s gaze was her lips.