IMAO Chapter 1

In the instant the spacecraft exploded, flames engulfed Jiang Yuan completely.

Soft music drifted around him.

Does heaven have music too?

Jiang Yuan thought of this in a daze. Suddenly, his eyes flew open. Harsh light assaulted his eyelids, and he instinctively raised a hand to shield himself from the blinding glare from the ceiling.

Lying in bed, Jiang Yuan closed his eyes again, listening to the lilting piano melody floating intermittently from beyond the door.

He hadn’t died, it seemed. Though he didn’t know why, he was… so relieved.

After a while, Jiang Yuan rolled over and sat up, surveying the room.

Whose room was this?

Jiang Yuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, checking his body for injuries. Finding none, he couldn’t determine the original owner’s cause of death.

Finished with his self-examination, Jiang Yuan stood to inspect the room’s layout. On the bedside table sat a digital photo frame, cycling images every thirty seconds. Currently, it displayed a family portrait.

The photo showed four people: a young couple flanked by two children about seven or eight years old. All four smiled at the camera.

As soon as Jiang Yuan saw their faces, information about each person flooded his mind.

The man and woman were this body’s AO parents.

Wait, what were AO parents?

As the thought occurred to him, more information surfaced:

In this world, humans were divided into six genders. Besides male and female, there were three additional classifications: Alpha, Beta, and Omega.

Alphas were tall, aggressive, intelligent, physically superior, and attractive. Omegas were delicate in appearance and gentle in nature. Betas made up the vast majority of ordinary people.

Alphas and Omegas often found themselves drawn to each other, with some lucky AO pairs even discovering their soulmates.

Due to their unique biology, Omegas initially couldn’t leave their homes, because once they went out, they might be attacked by Alphas. This changed when the Federation’s greatest scientist, Yin Si’er, invented Omega suppressants. Taking these allowed Omegas to pass as ordinary Betas in public.

With suppressants available, Omegas joined the workforce alongside Alphas and Betas. More Omegas entered business and politics.

Even in this era that advocated ABO equality, Alphas still held advantages over Betas and Omegas in nearly every aspect of life.

The original owner’s parents were a typical AO couple, yet they’d produced a Beta child. Fortunately, they didn’t mind and doted on their son.

In addition to the AO parents, the other boy in the photo was Qiu Jingming, the family’s adopted Omega brother.

This adopted brother was the child left behind by his father’s comrade-in-arms who died in an accident. Pitying the orphan, Jiang Yuan’s father had taken him in.

Jiang Yuan gently rubbed his forehead, feeling slightly dizzy. He didn’t mind his Beta status; in fact, he felt somewhat relieved.

Alphas were susceptible to pheromones. He could hardly imagine becoming an uncontrollable beast, let alone bearing children. The thought terrified him as a man who’d been ordinary for countless years.

Being a Beta was perfect.

Besides, a person’s strength wasn’t determined by gender. If one denies oneself, then it is really over.

Studying the photo, Jiang Yuan gleaned more information about the body’s original owner. Surprisingly, they shared the same name, which pleased Jiang Yuan. At least he wouldn’t need to change it.

Today was the original Jiang Yuan’s celebration. A ball was being held downstairs. He’d retreated to his room feeling unwell, fallen asleep… and then Jiang Yuan had taken over.

Recalling the original’s decade of grueling training, Jiang Yuan suddenly understood how he might have died.

Undoubtedly from overwork!

Through relentless effort, the original Jiang Yuan had become the only Beta admitted to the First Military Academy’s Mecha Department this year!

Alphas were a minority, after all. Many Betas and Omegas attended the First Military Academy. However, very few Betas entered the Mecha Department.

The department’s requirements were infamously brutal. Even among Alphas, only the elite could enter. For a Beta, who was physically inferior to Alphas, to succeed was cause for great celebration.

The First Military Academy was the Federation’s finest, producing countless exceptional officers, generals, and even marshals.

The academy had only one admission requirement: strength. They selected the best based on merit. Six years ago, they’d even admitted an Omega.

Many had questioned this decision, wondering who would be responsible if the Omega died among so many Alphas.

The academy’s president had silenced critics with a single retort: “Are the government-developed suppressants fake?”

Jiang Yuan sighed, rubbing his forehead as he lay back down. The original had worked so hard.

Suddenly, the reasons for that effort surfaced in Jiang Yuan’s mind. Besides not wanting to disappoint his AO parents, there was another crucial factor!

Jiang Yuan bolted upright, horrified!

Damn!

The original Jiang Yuan had an Alpha fiancé!

As ABO gender concepts flooded his mind again, Jiang Yuan panicked. Marrying an Alpha fiancé meant he would…

Instinctively, Jiang Yuan looked down at his stomach. No, this was unacceptable. Absolutely not.

I can’t have children, I really can’t!

Jiang Yuan rubbed his temples in anguish. The word “fiancé” weighed on him like a mountain, leaving him breathless. He sat on the bed’s edge, massaging his forehead, then walked to the bathroom mirror to adjust his clothes.

The original owner wasn’t bad looking. To Jiang Yuan, the face was even stunning.

In the play of light and shadow, his handsome features were chiseled, with deep black eyes and sleek dark hair framing his face.

Years of training had given him a healthy tan rather than pale skin. His muscles were toned. Though not an AO, he’d inherited his parents’ excellent genes, making him incredibly handsome.

Glancing at his communicator, Jiang Yuan saw it was nearly lunchtime. As the guest of honor, he couldn’t miss the celebration.

…

“What are you doing?” The handsome man looked bewildered as a fair, delicate young man pinned him against the wall. He raised an eyebrow and asked.

The young man pinning him was only about 170 cm tall, while the tall, handsome man was at least 180 cm, exuding an Alpha’s unique pheromones.

The young man’s pale hand reached for the man’s cheek but was blocked. “Jingming, what are you doing?”

“Song-ge…” A soft, weak voice accompanied eyes brimming with tears as Qiu Jingming stared intently at the handsome man.

“Don’t forget, I’m your brother’s fiancé!” Song Yirui’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he averted his gaze.

“My brother won’t find out. I’ve been thinking about you all day. He’s too busy to talk to you. I don’t know how he manages it. I feel awful when I can’t hear your voice.

“I’m so envious of my brother, being loved by you. Unlike me, I can’t do anything right, and no one likes me.

“You and my brother are childhood sweethearts, always together. He sees you often, so he’s not like me… Rui-ge, please hold me, just once…”

The pretty, obedient boy was on the verge of tears. Song Yirui couldn’t help but feel sympathy, allowing his boyfriend’s Omega brother to lean against him as he patted Qiu Jingming’s back.

“Rui-ge, *sob*…”

Qiu Jingming met all Alpha expectations for an Omega: delicate features, petite figure, gentle and attentive personality, obedient nature. He was a perfect Omega.

In fact, Qiu Jingming’s claim that no one liked him was false. On the contrary, he’d been pursued by many excellent Alphas in school, but had rejected them all. Instead, he’d suddenly confessed to Song Yirui six months ago.

Song Yirui reminded himself that Qiu Jingming was Jiang Yuan’s brother. They could never be together!

But since Qiu Jingming’s confession, he’d surprise Song Yirui with kisses every time he visited the Jiang household. Just moments ago, when Jiang Yuan said he was tired and going upstairs to sleep, the little Omega kissed him as Jiang Yuan turned away!

It had startled him, his heart pounding, but also brought an unprecedented thrill – something he’d never experienced with Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan’s personality was entirely Alpha-like, completely different from this delicate Omega. Though they were together, they’d never even kissed, only holding hands!

“Rui-ge, I like you so much.”

Hearing Qiu Jingming’s murmur, Song Yirui couldn’t deny that having such a beautiful Omega so devoted to him satisfied his Alpha ego. Nevertheless, he feigned propriety. “I’m sorry, Jingming. You shouldn’t like me.”

“No, Rui-ge, don’t apologize. Liking you is my fault. I know you love my brother, even when he’s too busy to see you. You still love him… I love you too, just as you love my brother.”

Seeing Qiu Jingming’s pitiful, tearful expression, Song Yirui couldn’t help but caress his beautiful face. Just as he was about to speak, the door suddenly opened.

The two sprang apart like startled rabbits, a chill running down their spines.

Seeing Jiang Yuan, Song Yirui’s heart raced. Had Jiang Yuan seen? From that angle, no… he shouldn’t have been able to see from the doorway…

But the window… could Jiang Yuan have seen?

Song Yirui’s hands trembled with anxiety.

“Here you are. Let’s go downstairs for lunch,” Jiang Yuan said, his mind automatically labeling the two based on the original owner’s memories.

Song Yirui: Alpha, fiancé, likable, excellent, strong, handsome, childhood sweetheart

Qiu Jingming: Omega, adopted brother, crybaby, needs protection

Given Song Yirui’s status, Jiang Yuan studied him closely. Noticing the scrutiny, Song Yirui nervously rubbed his nose and asked, “Jiang Yuan, why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?”

Jiang Yuan shook his head. “No, let’s go downstairs.”

Song Yirui nodded, relieved that Jiang Yuan hadn’t questioned anything. He thought that Jiang Yuan should not have seen what happened just now. Once Jiang Yuan walked away, Song Yirui’s heart finally settled.

He turned to warn Qiu Jingming. “Jingming, don’t do such misleading things again. It will upset Jiang Yuan.”

Qiu Jingming lowered his head, hiding his twisted expression from Jiang Yuan. He bit his lip hard and, after a moment, looked up with a bitter smile. “I understand, Rui-ge. I won’t cause you trouble…”

Seeing this, Song Yirui sighed helplessly. What power did he possess to make such a beautiful Omega look so heartbroken? “I’m sorry. I was really scared earlier. I was afraid Jiang Yuan might misunderstand, so I spoke harshly.”

Qiu Jingming, eyes red-rimmed, mumbled a vague assent.

Meanwhile, as Jiang Yuan left the room, he rubbed his eyes, pondering just how thick a filter the original owner had used to view Song Yirui!

Compared to the hardworking Beta that was the original Jiang Yuan, this Alpha Song Yirui was basically a spoiled rich kid. He couldn’t get into military academy, was poor at studies – a complete loser. How could the original have felt insecure in this relationship?

To hell with that!

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Raine: I will be posting until Chapter 5 within today. I will update this series every Monday and will switch back to daily updates when I get back from Japan, which would be on September.

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