As the Christmas bells rang out amidst the celebrations, the dazzling fireworks came to an end. The crowd that had surrounded Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan began to disperse, though some bold individuals lingered to offer their blessings.
These blessings were the usual "May you have a long and happy life together," "Wishing you many children," "Stay together forever," and so on, mistaking Pei Yujang for an Alpha.
With her tall and striking appearance, Pei Yujang indeed had the aura of an Alpha, so it wasn't surprising that people made this assumption. She didn't bother correcting them, feeling too awkward, and could only smile along with them.
The apple-cheeked staff member, brimming with enthusiasm, insisted on giving them two lottery draws, saying, "Good things come in pairs."
Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan each took a turn. Pei Yujang won a box of Xiangcheng apples—crisp and sweet, just like the ones they had just eaten. Yu Zhiwan won a Xiangcheng cultural and creative gift set, something with significant collectible value, not cheaply made.
Amidst the bustling streets, where people were continuing their Christmas celebrations into the early hours, Pei Yujang quickly pushed Yu Zhiwan away from the crowd and headed back to their apartment complex.
Xiangcheng, a true metropolis, was still brightly lit after midnight. Many people were wandering around the neighborhood, lighting sparklers for fun. Someone noticed Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan and enthusiastically ran over, holding a bunch of sparklers, asking if they wanted to buy one for just 9.9 yuan. Pei Yujang politely declined.
Though the wind outside was cold, Pei Yujang felt her face burning. She hadn't spoken much to Yu Zhiwan on the way back.
In the elevator, just as they were about to part ways, Yu Zhiwan suddenly handed the cultural and creative gift set to Pei Yujang.
"I can't see it anyway, so you might as well have it."
As she handed over the item, Yu Zhiwan's soft skin unexpectedly brushed against Pei Yujang's hand. Although they had touched each other countless times before, this time made Pei Yujang's heart race uncontrollably.
"Then… what about this? Should I leave it with you?" Pei Yujang stammered, pointing to the box of apples.
For some reason, even saying the word "apple" felt difficult, as if it carried the weight of the secret kiss they had shared. Just seeing the bright red apples on the box brought the memory of that kiss flooding back.
Yu Zhiwan shook her head and then nodded slightly.
"I like to peel apples before eating them."
With those words, Pei Yujang understood. Since they had met, she had always peeled fruit for Yu Zhiwan, cutting it up to make it easier for her.
Despite having lived as a blind person for many years and even being able to conduct experiments, Yu Zhiwan's adaptability and dexterity far surpassed the average person.
But she still enjoyed being cared for by Pei Yujang.
Her words meant that she wanted to leave the apples at her place and eat them the next time she visited.
Feeling her heart nearly explode with excitement, Pei Yujang quickly bid Yu Zhiwan goodbye, not even managing to say "Merry Christmas."
She hurriedly unlocked her door and went inside. After a few clumsy attempts to fit the key into the lock, she finally succeeded, then collapsed onto the floor without even bothering to turn on the heat.
No exaggeration, her mind was filled with thoughts of Yu Zhiwan's lips.
She had never been this close to someone before. It was said that a Beta kissing an Omega wouldn't produce such intense feelings—only an Alpha and an Omega, who could fully sense each other's pheromones, would experience such a strong dual physiological response.
That's a dual pleasure, both physical and mental, or so she had heard, though she had never tried it.
Between close friends, both being clean girls with no romantic interest in each other, accidentally touching lips wouldn't be a big deal—just a bit of awkwardness to laugh off.
But although she wasn't romantically interested in Yu Zhiwan, she was a Beta who could sense pheromones!
Pei Yujang had once been an Alpha, capable of distinguishing pheromones but without the typical Alpha physiological reactions—the kind that made them desire Omega pheromones uncontrollably.
For her, sensing pheromones was just like being able to describe a scent.
When their lips touched, the scent of the Omega, combined with the aroma of apples, was transmitted to her tongue.
Yu Zhiwan's lips were like jelly, sweet and soft. When she accidentally brushed against them, she instinctively began to suck, and the fragrance of the pheromones hit her all at once, overwhelming her senses and leaving her mind reeling, as if she were drowning in the Omega's scent.
It even made her feel dizzy.
But it wasn't the kind of dizziness that comes from blood loss after an injury; instead, it was as if countless tiny electric currents were running wild through her bones. This sensation was entirely new to Pei Yujang, and she was experiencing it for the first time.
Even now, her face was still warm.
Pei Yujang couldn't shake the feeling that she had done something wrong and went too far today, and she began to feel a creeping anxiety. She had no idea if Yu Zhiwan would be bothered by it.
But Yu Zhiwan seemed like the type who wouldn't speak up even if she was upset.
The lights outside were bright, and it seemed like every household was still awake, spending the final hours of Christmas Eve and welcoming Christmas Day with their families. The lights reflected off the floor, and Pei Yujang, barefoot, groped her way into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Sitting by the sofa, she slowly sipped it.
The water was cold, but the warmth in her chest persisted, her heart still not fully calmed.
Pei Yujang tried to steady her breathing to calm herself, staring at the clock on the wall, only to fall back into thoughts of the kiss.
It seemed she couldn't forget Yu Zhiwan's pheromones.
This was normal—Yu Zhiwan was probably a high-level Omega with powerful pheromones, which could be irresistible to an Alpha, like a deadly poison. For a Beta like her, it didn't evoke desire, just pure admiration.
Yes, she admired Yu Zhiwan's pheromones.
With that thought, the flush in Pei Yujang's face finally subsided, partly because she had pressed her cheek against the cool glass to suppress the rising emotions.
Xiangcheng's winter wasn't as cold as Yicheng's, being located at the junction between the north and south, blending elements of both regions. It was a city with a strong sense of inclusiveness, and even at the end of December, the lowest temperatures were only around minus three or four degrees Celsius—nothing to worry about for someone like Pei Yujang from Yicheng.
She had been able to run on the ice in Yicheng at just a few years old, back during the apocalypse when the weather was even more erratic, with nighttime temperatures in December dropping to minus thirty or forty degrees, ten times colder than Xiangcheng.
With no fear, Pei Yujang decided to take a cold shower.
She had been acting strange all day and needed to cool off. After the cold shower, she did feel more relaxed—her face was no longer flushed, and her body felt normal.
After casually drying her hair, she lay down to sleep, not even bothering to turn on the heater, leaving her bare feet exposed to the cool night air. It was far more refreshing than using air conditioning in the summer.
The downside was that she woke up the next morning with a fever.
Having spent years in the military, Pei Yujang could accurately diagnose minor illnesses. Even without a thermometer, she knew she had a fever, likely over 38°C, possibly approaching 39°C.
After transitioning from Alpha to Beta, Pei Yujang's physical fitness had slightly declined, though still within acceptable limits. But her immune system had taken a significant hit, much to her annoyance.
Back in the day, she could strip down and run through the snow without catching such a severe fever. At most, she'd get a mild fever, easily cured with some medication and a good night's sleep.
But now her head was swimming, her ability to think was compromised, and Pei Yujang could barely manage to pick up her phone from the nightstand to check the time. It was already past nine in the morning.
For most young people, sleeping until after nine isn't unusual, but she usually did morning exercises, getting up no later than seven. It was rare for her to sleep this late, and even then, it wasn't restful.
Last night, she had dreamt of going to war, only to become a deserter and end up on the gallows. She was so frightened she woke up with a start, crying out for justice, but no one listened, and she was ultimately beheaded and hung on the city wall.
Worst of all, her throat and nose felt terrible, her voice weak and hoarse, as if her throat were stuffed with cotton.
She tried to get out of bed, but her body felt like a rag doll's, as if every muscle had been wrung out. She couldn't figure out why this cold was hitting her so hard.
For the first time, Pei Yujang experienced the feeling of having all her energy drained. She lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, drifting back to sleep without realizing it. When she woke up again, it was almost noon.
After that nap, Pei Yujang felt slightly better, this time without any dreams. She checked her phone and saw several messages, including a few from Yu Zhiwan, sent around nine in the morning, asking her to open the door. But at that time, she had been asleep.
Since moving into their new home, they hadn't exchanged keys yet, mostly because they lived right across from each other and could just knock on the door if needed. Pei Yujang hadn't expected to get sick, let alone be too ill to get out of bed.
After sending those messages and not getting a response, Yu Zhiwan had assumed she was still asleep and mentioned she would head back.
Feeling a bit more energized after reading the messages, Pei Yujang realized she couldn't let Yu Zhiwan see her in this disheveled state. She forced herself to get up, washed up, tidied her hair, brushed her teeth, and, after a bit of effort, poured herself a glass of water to keep by the bed before texting Yu Zhiwan.
[I can't make it today, sorry.]
They had planned to go play a murder mystery game today, something popular in Xiangcheng. Fortunately, they hadn't made any reservations. At this time of day, it would be easy to find others to play with, as many game venues were short on players and could quickly fill a group.
She didn't give a reason, but Yu Zhiwan wasn't so easily fooled and immediately called her to ask what was wrong.
Pei Yujang tried to brush it off with a few words, but she couldn't find the right ones. Her hesitation gave away that something was off with her voice, prompting Yu Zhiwan to come over and knock on the door without another word.
Left with no choice, Pei Yujang dragged herself to open the door.
Since waking up, her mind had been foggy. She was wearing thin spring-autumn pajamas, having felt hot last night and deciding to sleep in them after her shower.
Realizing she was underdressed, she remembered that Yu Zhiwan couldn't see, and let out a sigh of relief—until the Omega suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Yu Zhiwan's grip wasn't strong, and it didn't hurt, but it sent a shiver down Pei Yujang's spine. Sure enough, Yu Zhiwan's hand moved from her wrist, feeling her clothing before continuing up her arm to her shoulder.
To accommodate her inspection, Pei Yujang bent down slightly.
She didn't like wearing too many buttons to bed, so when she bent down, a large portion of her pale skin was exposed. But since the person in front of her couldn't see, she didn't bother covering up.
"Did you sleep like this last night?"
Just from the sound of her voice, Yu Zhiwan could tell Pei Yujang had caught a chill. She, an Omega, had been out in the cold and hadn't caught a cold, so it had to have happened after they got home.
Although Yu Zhiwan was blind, she could still be remarkably perceptive. Pei Yujang didn't bother lying and just stayed silent, which was as good as admitting it.
Not only had she slept in those thin pajamas, but she had also walked around barefoot, drunk cold water, and taken a cold shower. No wonder she got so sick—an ordinary person wouldn't have stood a chance. It was only because of her previously strong constitution that she had been so reckless.
Pei Yujang had been ready for a lecture, but instead, Yu Zhiwan lightly tapped her nails on the wheelchair's armrest and said with a half-smile:
"Serves you right."
Pei Yujang pouted.
"Get back to bed, and don't get up again."
Few people had ever spoken to Pei Yujang in such a tone, but when Yu Zhiwan did, her voice was so gentle that it left no room for resistance. Obediently, she returned to bed and pulled the covers up.
Only then did she realize that sometimes, in front of Yu Zhiwan, she behaved like a mischievous child who, when it came down to it, still listened.
She had never been this childish in front of others, but she couldn't help it with Yu Zhiwan. Even Pei Yujang noticed it herself.
Lying in bed, Pei Yujang heard Yu Zhiwan leaving. About ten minutes later, the door opened again, and the sound of the wheelchair's wheels approached slowly. As the bedroom door opened, Pei Yujang caught the scent of ginger cola soup.
Yu Zhiwan, a woman skilled in experiments, was naturally good at cooking too. She was very handy, and her ginger cola soup was far superior to Pei Yujang's—no hint of spiciness, with the ginger and cola flavors perfectly blended into a steaming, delicious drink.
Pei Yujang gulped down the entire bowl and handed the empty bowl back to Yu Zhiwan, signaling that she had finished. Yu Zhiwan's lips curled into a quick smile, and she handed the empty bowl back to Pei Yujang, who placed it on the nightstand.
"How did you manage to catch a cold?" Yu Zhiwan asked, sounding somewhat regretful. "We finally have a holiday, and I was hoping we could play a murder mystery game today. But since you're not available, I guess I'll have to go with Boss Ji."
The lazy Pei Yujang immediately sprang up from bed.
"You can't go with her!"
"Why not?"
"She… she's just like that Liu Huanran, lusting after your beauty, wanting to marry you, have kids with you. She doesn't really love you; she's only interested in your looks!"
Pei Yujang rambled, perhaps because the illness had muddled her mind. She struggled to form coherent thoughts, but just thinking of Liu Huanran made her angry.
"You really need to be careful with people like that."
She used to be an Alpha, and precisely because of that, she knew them well.
Even if it was natural for Alphas to be attracted to Omegas, there should be a gradual process. How could someone be so attentive right from the start, without understanding what Yu Zhiwan truly wanted? It was all just a ploy to win her over.
Although she didn't dislike Boss Ji as much as Liu Huanran, she still saw her as a potential threat and definitely didn't want Yu Zhiwan getting too close to her.
"But I'm an Omega, so I'm supposed to marry an Alpha eventually, right? I can't stay single forever."
Yu Zhiwan shrugged in confusion.
Seeing her serious expression, the flood of emotions in Pei Yujang suddenly faded, leaving her feeling down.
Due to their physiological makeup, many Omegas naturally possess maternal instincts and traditional values, tending to be family-oriented. Perhaps Yu Zhiwan simply believed that marrying an Alpha was the natural course of things, and Pei Yujang couldn't argue with that or interfere with her happiness.
But if the female lead left her now to pursue a relationship, not only would the plot veer wildly off course, but what if she ended up with another bad partner and went mad, destroying the world?
Desperate, Pei Yujang had a sudden inspiration.
"Women should have some money before getting married, especially if it's to an Alpha. If you don't, and things go wrong, you'll end up at their mercy."
Pei Yujang "kindly" began to persuade her.
"Zhiwan, I think you're still young. There's no need to rush into marriage. Since I'll be busy after taking over the marketing department, how about helping me out while you're undergoing treatment? I'll pay you a salary every month."
She remembered that Pei Jinhui had mentioned Yu Zhiwan hadn't officially resigned from Yue Rong, just stepped down from her position as a beauty model. Finding another model wasn't difficult, so Pei Jinhui had readily approved her leave to seek treatment.
This left Yu Zhiwan essentially holding a vacant title at Yue Rong, though she still had shares in the new product line and received dividends, enough to support her stay here.
However, the future of those dividends was uncertain, and a stable job seemed like a better option. Pei Yujang figured that if she could get Yu Zhiwan to agree to work with her, she could keep the female lead close.
Feeling confident in her plan, Pei Yujang was eager to get started.
Most people who transmigrate either oppose the protagonist or fall in love with them—couldn't she just be the female lead's career fan?
Seeing Yu Zhiwan hesitating, but not entirely unwilling, Pei Yujang immediately offered her a great deal.
In the initial phase, she'd receive dividends; later, she'd get a salary. The dividends would be for her participation, allowing her to take half the profits. However, Yu Zhiwan would have to cooperate with her work.
The first six months would be dividends, as Pei Yujang estimated that even with Yue Rong's backing, it would take time for the marketing account to gain traction.
Her marketing department was practically a semi-independent studio, initially tied to Yue Rong for product promotion, but eventually diversifying to share other content, making it a fifty-fifty split. This was the purpose of her social media venture.
Pei Yujang's goal wasn't just to succeed in business; otherwise, she could have simply restructured the marketing department. She intended to leverage Pei Jinhui's resources to spread awareness of apocalyptic theories, at least making more people pay attention.
She was offering a good deal. Even if the studio wasn't profitable initially, Pei Yujang would ensure Yu Zhiwan got paid, with no tricks involved.
Only a fool would turn down easy money. Initially discussing marriage, Yu Zhiwan was now captivated by the future Pei Yujang had mapped out.
Pei Yujang felt like a villain trying to tie the heroine to her side with money, preventing her from finding true love.
But regardless, Yu Zhiwan agreed readily, willing to work with her. Once again, she became the heroine's boss.
With her new boss instructing her to stay by her side all day, Yu Zhiwan's attitude softened. She gently asked Pei Yujang what she wanted for lunch.
Knowing that those with colds shouldn't eat anything too greasy, Pei Yujang listed a few light dishes, assuming Yu Zhiwan would order takeout or go downstairs to buy something. There was a restaurant across the street from the apartment complex, not far at all. But instead, Yu Zhiwan ordered the ingredients to be delivered to her home so she could cook herself.
While waiting for the delivery, Yu Zhiwan familiarized herself with the kitchen, and by the time the groceries arrived, she had a good grasp of where everything was, from pots and pans to spices.
Feeling much better after the ginger soup, Pei Yujang couldn't resist getting out of bed to watch her cook, worried she might have an accident. But she soon realized Yu Zhiwan was more familiar with the kitchen than she was. Since moving in, Pei Yujang had rarely used the kitchen except to grab something from the fridge.
Though she was highly skilled in combat, Pei Yujang was utterly clueless when it came to cooking.
She was a natural kitchen disaster, and getting frozen dumplings and noodles cooked properly was already an achievement—she often undercooked even instant meals.
Yu Zhiwan, calm and composed, transformed in the kitchen. Her hands, beautiful and slender, with clearly defined joints, were skilled and nimble whether conducting experiments or preparing food. When Pei Yujang saw her lift the pot without any tremor, she knew she had considerable strength.
Though the stainless steel pot wasn't heavy, it certainly wasn't light once filled with ingredients.
After slicing the winter melon, Yu Zhiwan began preparing hand-beaten meatballs. Using the new bowl and mallet she had bought, she worked with expert precision. When she noticed Pei Yujang lingering in the kitchen doorway, she waved her in.
"Can you help me with something?"
Naturally, Yu Zhiwan didn't dare ask her to chop vegetables. Even as a blind person, she was better at it than Pei Yujang, having once felt the mess Pei Yujang had made of her cuts, fearing she might cut herself.
Now she just asked her to help with the meatballs, planning to make winter melon meatball soup, which would be easy to digest. The meat mixture was prepared by Yu Zhiwan, who had added some vegetables for balanced nutrition.
But Pei Yujang was hopeless in the kitchen. Even though Yu Zhiwan had shown her how to do it, she struggled. Either the meat splattered everywhere, or she couldn't shape the meatballs properly, leaving some clumps while others fell apart.
Embarrassed, Pei Yujang stopped and suggested, "Maybe I should go…"
Before she could finish, the ever-patient and responsible teacher, Yu Zhiwan, moved behind her and gently took hold of her wrist.
"If you can't manage the pounding, try rotating the bowl along the edge in one direction without changing it. Use your wrist."
As their skin touched, Yu Zhiwan's warm breath brushed against Pei Yujang's face as she spoke. The kitchen, without heating, felt a bit chilly in winter, and Pei Yujang could clearly feel the Omega's breath by her ear, bringing back memories of the previous night.
Gradually, already weakened by her cold, Pei Yujang found herself losing control over her body under the Omega's gentle guidance.
Pei Yujang felt both frantic and embarrassed. Yu Zhiwan obviously saw her as a friend, yet here she was, blushing and heart racing, even though she wasn't going to do anything inappropriate. Still, she felt like she was betraying Yu Zhiwan's trust, her ears burning with shame.
Unexpectedly, the Omega's soft voice gently teased her, nearly whispering in her ear, "Your hand is getting weaker. Are you tired?"
Pei Yujang wanted to shake her head, but the kitchen atmosphere was too overwhelming. She could only murmur weakly, "Maybe… I'm just not feeling well today because of the cold. I think I'll go have some sugar water."
Yu Zhiwan simply responded, "Oh, I made you a bowl of sweet soup. I'm not a big fan of sweets, so you go enjoy it. We can eat together later."
Pei Yujang appreciated Yu Zhiwan's thoughtfulness, but when she saw the crystal-clear apple sweet soup on the table, she nearly flipped the table and fled.
Did her house have no other fruits?
Actually, it didn't. Pei Yujang recalled guiltily. She had eaten the last of the grapes while watching TV, and other fruits that were too hot or too cold weren't suitable for someone with a cold. Pears were cooling and should be avoided as well.
The only fresh fruit she had left was apples.
And these were the apples she and Yu Zhiwan had won in the lottery.
She had dug this hole for herself.
Pei Yujang regretted her decision to take Yu Zhiwan to that street yesterday. If they had walked a bit further into the city center, they might have avoided such an awkward situation, without that overly enthusiastic and clueless staff member who mistook them for an AO couple.
The apple sweet soup was still steaming, its fragrance wafting into her nose. Pei Yujang did like apples, especially the Xiangcheng variety, the best she'd ever tasted—crisp, sweet, and large, not something easily found elsewhere.
But now, staring at the sweet soup, Pei Yujang felt at a loss, her gaze drifting to Yu Zhiwan, who was busy in the kitchen. She looked back at the soup.
She couldn't just throw away the freshly made sweet soup, but letting it cool wasn't good for her health. Her new social media account was just gaining followers, and she hadn't even started posting content yet.
Pei Yujang had planned to take a two-day break, start updating content tomorrow, and find time for a vlog or live stream to introduce herself.
As she mulled it over, the door opened, and Yu Zhiwan wheeled herself to the table. Pei Yujang instinctively tried to push the sweet soup aside, but the strong aroma of rock sugar and apples caught Yu Zhiwan's attention. She reached out, found the bowl, and asked curiously:
"Why aren't you eating the sweet soup? Don't you like it?"
Pei Yujang quickly shook her head. "No, no, it's really good—so sweet and fragrant."
"Is that so," Yu Zhiwan mused, tilting her head thoughtfully. "I thought maybe you couldn't even hold a spoon and wanted me to feed you."
Just as Pei Yujang was about to insist she wasn't that weak, her gaze landed on the shimmering sweet soup, and she couldn't help but glance at Yu Zhiwan's full lips, which were as lush as deep pink roses in bloom. Her thoughts drifted to the roses at the Ningxiang guesthouse, and she blurted out:
"You mean… with your mouth?"