What Should I Do If My Ex-Girlfriend's Pheromones Smell Too Good? - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Gossip. I Want My Milk Tea Five-Sweet, and My Ship Ten-Sweet…

After class, Shu Qiong, driven by a thirst for knowledge, cornered Professor Wang at the podium who was tidying up her teaching materials.

She was very curious about how the question-setter would answer this problem.

Professor Wang just smiled and replied: “No solution.”

Shu Qiong: “…”

Was she messing with her!

Professor Wang restrained her smile: “There are thousands of options, but all have various drawbacks. The Alliance having one Shu Ci is humanity’s good fortune.”

The sneak attack team in the Battle of Bolton set out with a willingness to die. She had remotely participated in that battle from the command center. If the operation failed, not only would an elite team be lost for nothing, but it would also lead to the fall of a crucial human base.

The moment Shu Ci killed the Insect Queen, the usually calm and orderly command center erupted. Everyone was cheering and shouting without regard for their image. The then young Professor Wang stared blankly at the screen, watching the bloodied, limping figure emerge from the Mother Nest, as if she had seen a god descended from heaven carrying light.

“I’m surprised you chose the Mecha Engineer profession,” she said to Shu Qiong with an elder’s friendliness. “Many people speculated you would follow Shu Ci’s path to success, especially since you are an Alpha. Venturing into Mecha Solo Combat first seems to have fewer obstacles.”

“But I also understand your choice. You are very much like your mother—ambitious, intelligent, and resourceful—not allowing your thinking to be constrained by insignificant things.”

Shu Qiong whispered: “You flatter me.”

Professor Wang, whose lean face was lined with wrinkles, meaningfully patted her shoulder: “Young person, you have a good mother. Be skilled at utilizing this resource. Of course, don’t abuse it.”

Shu Qiong sincerely thanked her: “I understand. Thank you.”

She felt slightly dazed until she left the academic building. She felt she had previously underestimated the influence of Ms. Shu Ci.

“Going back to the dorm?” Yan Xiangyu nudged the distracted person beside her, preventing her from bumping into a pillar. “Tiantian said she’s already bought us dinner and taken it back to 406.”

Shu Qiong snapped back and cheered: “Yay!”

“What’s so great?” A strong arm hooked around her neck. Shu Qiong stumbled violently and quickly gave the attacker an elbow jab.

Jin Yan, who was furious after being forced to attend two hours of “Theoretical Basis of Coupling Components” after failing to get into “History of Mecha Warfare,” groaned and wrestled with her: “I heard our A-Qiong showed great power in class this afternoon? You got all the glory while your old mother was pulled bald by data models!”

Shu Qiong fought back: “If you don’t prepare beforehand, you deserve to miss the class!”

Jin Yan threw a tantrum: “I don’t care! Treat me to dinner, and I’ll forgive you.”

Shu Qiong called her shameless: “What delicacies can’t Miss Jin afford to eat that you need me to treat you?”

Jin Yan was composed: “You wouldn’t understand. Food tastes best when you’re fighting for it. If you can force a friend to treat you, it tastes even better.”

Shu Qiong commented: “Nonsense.”

Yan Xiangyu nudged Shu Qiong again, pulling her to the side of the road to avoid colliding with other passersby: “I’ll treat you. Let’s invite everyone in 406.”

Jin Yan instantly turned around: “Oh, how can I accept? By the way, can we choose the type of food?”

Shu Qiong: “…You just accepted it?”

Yan Xiangyu, changing from her cold image, said gently: “Yes, what would you all like to eat?”

“Then I need to think carefully.” Jin Yan’s perception of Yan Xiangyu immediately did a 180-degree turn. She then looked at Shu Qiong with disdain: “If you don’t take advantage of a free offer, you’ll be struck by lightning!”

Yan Xiangyu, willingly being taken advantage of, looked agreeable: “Mhm. Student Shu can invite other friends too. How about tomorrow night? Are you all free tomorrow night?”

Shu Qiong grabbed Yan Xiangyu’s arm and stared closely at her face: “Are you possessed?”

“How could that be?” Yan Xiangyu had a look of doting indulgence, like a melting iceberg. “What are you thinking?”

Shu Qiong looked at her unflinchingly: “Then I want to invite Song Lianqiao too.”

A slight crack appeared on Yan Xiangyu’s radiant face. Her voice held an almost imperceptible gritting of teeth: “Student Shu sounds very fond of that little Omega. Are you pursuing her?”

Jin Yan, looking ready for gossip, looked at Shu Qiong with horror, as if saying how dare you trick me into secretly liking an Omega.

Shu Qiong was speechless: “Stop it! Sending a friendly signal, expressing gratitude for her saving a seat for me, is that not allowed?”

Yan Xiangyu couldn’t maintain her composure: “She saved a seat for you too?”

Shu Qiong found it amusing: “We’re classmates. What’s the big deal about saving a seat?”

Seeing Yan Xiangyu’s forced smile, she finally decided to let her off the hook: “Alright, alright, I won’t invite her. I was just kidding.”

Jin Yan sighed dramatically on the side: “Words spoken unintentionally are often the most truthful.”

Yan Xiangyu completely lost her smile, and after a long while, she spoke gently again: “Invite her. I don’t mind, Xiao Qiong.”

Shu Qiong got goosebumps, then heard Yan Xiangyu add, “Are there any other little Alphas, little Betas, or little Omegas who helped you save seats? Invite them all.”

“…No.”

Shu Qiong always felt there was something strange about that statement, as if she were being asked how many other charming confidantes she kept outside.

When they were nearing the 406 dorm, the Internet-addicted Jin Yan suddenly spoke: “You two, although I don’t want to interrupt your lovey-dovey atmosphere, I still want to interject.”

Shu Qiong turned her head aggressively.

Yan Xiangyu, however, was quite pleased and played along: “What is it?”

Jin Yan said subtly: “Someone on the forum claims to be an alumnus of Capital Star High School No. 1. You two, your ex-relationship has been dug up.”

The two of them: “…”

Awkward.

Before anyone brought up this fact, they could pretend nothing had happened, flirting and bantering through the Schrödinger’s cat of unspoken tension. But once things came to light, it became very unsettling.

Jin Yan also felt very awkward, so she turned the screen to show them: “It’s so ridiculous. I’m witnessing how rumors are born. Half-truth and half-false is the trickiest.”

The thread was the same one Su Heyi showed Yan Xiangyu. The first few posts were all wondering about their relationship, with various guesses, but the main theme was that their relationship was too good, to the point of being unbelievable. But the tone suddenly shifted from the middle.

157L: “Huh? Are there no Capital Star High School No. 1 alumni here? No one has given the lowdown yet. Don’t you all know that Shu and Yan are exes?”

158L: “!!! Spill the details, upstairs”

161L: “[Horror] I was also in the same graduating class as Capital Star High School No. 1. How did I not know!”

162L: “Reply to upstairs, the parties never stated it, but it was almost an open secret! After all, there was a period when the two of them were inseparable. I once saw them together in the small woods near the track after evening self-study.”

167L: “What were they doing in the small woods! Kissing? I suddenly feel so excited thinking about it. What’s with this inexplicable CP feeling [Drooling]”

169L: “What else could they be doing at Capital Star High School No. 1’s famous lovers’ meeting spot [Smirk]. But I didn’t see anything, because the disciplinary director came for a surprise check. The two big shots ran incredibly fast, and I was also running for my life with my n.p.y. (non-p.y./partner) and didn’t have time to observe [Sweat]”

171L: “Why did the tone suddenly become comedic…”

189L: “Hey! Has the topic strayed? So why did exes enter the same restroom stall! And they’re both Alphas!”

191L: “Could they be getting back together for an AA romance? OP said they were in the stall for only four or five minutes, so they couldn’t have done much [Scratching head]”

201L: “That’s not right. Exes usually badmouth each other when they meet! The reality is probably not as harmonious as you all think. You think this is a novel.”

205L: “I heard Shu Qiong’s seatmate this morning was a cute and lively little Omega from the same class, and they seemed to have a good relationship. Could this be related?”

206L OP: “Very likely! When Yan came to find Shu, she was sitting in that Omega’s seat! And she sat there for quite a while, looking very intimidating. None of us dared to go near her.”

208L: “I have a bold guess”

209L: “Me too…”

210L: “Could the first gossip of the semester be born right here? Exes meet again after a long separation, both differentiating into female Alphas. The cruel twist of fate makes them both fall for the same Omega. For this, they don’t hesitate to turn against each other! One takes the advantage of proximity and makes the first move, the other travels far to declare her claim… Faced with such a choice, whose favor will the little Omega bestow?”

211L: “What a painful choice. That little Omega, I’m willing to suffer for you [Lust]”

222L: “This is an A rivalry! Also, what is the attitude of that Omega student? Is it a male or female Omega?”

230L “OP: Female Omega. I don’t know her attitude. She seemed quite friendly with Shu, but I’m not sure about Yan.”

245L: “OP, are you even trying! Be brave and go ask for a clear answer! So many sisters and brothers in the thread are waiting for the truth! Also, I bet on Shu to win.”

256L: “Me too, Team Shu. Publicly confessing to Student Shu, you are my ideal type!”

257L: “Humph, I bet on Yan! I love this kind of iceberg cool sister lowering her stance for you alone. [Lust] [Lust]”

260L: “Starting a betting pool! [Voting link: State your pick, who is the potential Alpha to win the beautiful Omega?”

282L: “…So, is it confirmed that the two big shots have a strained relationship?”

283L: “Isn’t that set in stone? Most people would think their ex is a total idiot! It’s a sign of their class that two Alpha exes fighting over one Omega haven’t torn each other apart yet!”

284L: “Maybe they already fought in the restroom stall.”

290L: “…I bet fifty cents that the truth is not like this. Maybe the big shots have a good relationship.”

291L: “What’s up with the ID “MilkTeaIW antFiveSweet” upstairs? I’ve seen them several times contradicting everyone. Then what do you think the outcome will be?”

301L MilkTeaIW antFiveSweet: “I think the big shots have the makings of an AA romance.”

302L: “…”

303L: “…Alright, Five-Sweet, step down now.”

304L: “Step down +1”

MilkTeaIWantFiveSweet’s comment was out of place in the forum and was quickly drowned out by the large influx of gossipers fiercely debating who was more Alpha between Yan and Shu.

Gu Tiantian took off her glasses and furiously turned off her bracelet.

She was the true oracle, okay! Why didn’t anyone believe her!

The day this first campus gossip ripens and falls, it will be the day Gu Tiantian is vindicated! By then, she was determined to individually call out every skeptical netizen in the forum!

Forget it, forget it. Ignorant netizens, Sweet refuses to associate with them!

Gu Tiantian took out her familiar drawing tablet from her bag and began her daily creation.

On Star-blog, the famous creator with the ID “ShipIWantTenSweet” logged into her personal account and, as expected, received a massive number of private messages.

She selectively scanned them and noticed one submission.

WhiteLycheeJuice: “Teacher’s drawings are too good! Even a simple rehash is so delicious [Lipstick] [Lipstick]! By the way, Goddess, can I submit a request here? Would you consider drawing AA CP in the future? [BeggingForFood.jpg]”

WhiteLycheeJuice: [Image]

The image was clearly the picture of Shu Qiong and Yan Xiangyu posted on the military university forum.

Gu Tiantian cross-referenced the time. At that point, the gossipers in the thread still didn’t know the two were exes, and a portion of them were indeed shipping them as a couple.

She was very familiar with this fan named “WhiteLycheeJuice.” She was the kind of die-hard fan who sent a private message confession every day, and whenever she posted on Star-blog, WhiteLycheeJuice would be in the front row wailing about being hungry. She didn’t expect her to be a student at the Alliance Military University too.

She really is a die-hard fan, with taste as good as hers.

Gu Tiantian was comforted.

ShipIWantTenSweet: “[Hug] Submission received!”

At the same moment, in a dorm in Building E of the military university residential area, an Omega girl who was slumped on the sofa scrolling through Star-blog suddenly sat up, startling her roommates.

They saw her happily shout: “My Goddess replied to me! She said she’s going to draw my ship! Heavens and earth, is this paradise…”

Roommates: “…”