IMAO Chapter 34

Jiang Yuan glanced at Qiu Jingming, lowering his gaze and about to speak—

One of the onlookers, who was unable to hold back, scoffed, “That’s impossible. Omega heat is caused by pheromone accumulation in the body, a process that takes time. Only when it reaches its peak does heat occur. During heat, pheromones dissipate, causing levels to plummet rapidly. A second heat can’t happen so quickly.”

“They’re just taking advantage of these Alphas who didn’t pay attention in biology class. Any Omega knows this is basic knowledge.”

Qiu Jingming: “…”

Song Yirui: “…”

Hearing the bystander’s words, Qiu Jingming felt incredibly guilty. Flushed and stammering, he said, “Textbooks aren’t always completely right. There are even Betas who become Omegas. Exceptions can happen.”

Hearing the little Omega’s stubbornness, the person coolly retorted, “Technically, those aren’t Betas becoming Omegas. They were always Omegas, just with less obvious traits.

“Though, come to think of it… a friend recently mentioned something. There’s a popular drug on the market that can rapidly increase an Omega’s pheromone levels, causing ‘pseudo-heat’. But it’s different from true heat and only lasts for a short time.

“Say, little Omega, you didn’t happen to take something you shouldn’t have, did you?”

The person gave Qiu Jingming a meaningful look, winking at him.

Everyone laughed. The speaker wasn’t tall, about 175cm—rather short for an Alpha. He had attractive ash-blonde hair and alluring almond eyes. His delicate features were even more striking than Qiu Jingming’s.

Qiu Jingming was already considered exceptionally beautiful for an Omega, but this person surpassed him.

The way he smiled instantly captivated the surrounding Alphas. He had no discernible scent, making his gender indeterminable.

Hearing those words, Qiu Jingming bristled like a cat with its tail stepped on. Noticing Song Yirui’s questioning and suspicious gaze, Qiu Jingming panicked. He wanted to curse.

What did this have to do with that guy, acting all knowledgeable? Fuck!

Qiu Jingming suppressed his anger. He absolutely couldn’t lash out like a shrewish Omega now, or his image in Song Yirui’s mind would crumble. But he had to address the accusation, lest he appear guilty.

Qiu Jingming looked tearfully at Jiang Yuan and Song Yirui, saying, “I don’t know why he’s saying this… I really didn’t take anything. I was home all day. I don’t understand what’s happening to my body.

“Ge, please believe me. I would never do such a thing!

“Why do people always assume the worst about others… *sob*…”

Clearly, the man was unaffected by the charms of pretty little Omegas. He didn’t shut up at all in face of Qiu Jingming’s pitiful act.

Seeing Qiu Jingming’s response and the scummy Alpha’s odd look, he smirked playfully, “I’m just saying. Don’t cry.

“But since you claim it was heat-induced, why don’t we visit a lab? I’ll have my friend run some tests. He’s been researching these drugs recently. They leave a unique trace in the body for a long time. A simple test would confirm whether you’ve taken any. If not, I’ll apologize.”

“That’s right, test it. It’s much more convincing than speaking with your mouth!” the Alphas chimed in.

Jiang Yuan stared coolly at Qiu Jingming, waiting to see how he would explain. From the corner of his eye, he observed the speaker, who was casually tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, watching Qiu Jingming with an amused expression, clearly anticipating the drama to unfold.

“I…” Qiu Jingming’s face alternated between pale and flushed, his pitiable expression crumbling. He desperately wanted to strangle the person before him, a flash of venom crossing his eyes.

He simply couldn’t explain. Unsure if the person was bluffing, he knew that if he stubbornly went for the test, the evidence would be damning—he had indeed taken the drug.

“Jingming… did you really take something?” Song Yirui asked, his tone low and his expression complex.

Qiu Jingming trembled with anger. “What are you implying? You believe him?”

Song Yirui: “I…”

The seed of doubt had sprouted. Song Yirui averted his gaze, at a loss for words.

Seeing Song Yirui’s reaction, Qiu Jingming inwardly cursed. He turned to Jiang Yuan, grabbed him, and pulled him away from Ji Rong. Tearfully, he pleaded, “Gege, you believe me, right?”

Jiang Yuan pushed away Qiu Jingming’s grasping hand and smiled slightly. Seeing Qiu Jingming’s guilty expression earlier and Song Yirui’s accusation, how could he not understand the situation?

This adopted brother had clearly schemed to seduce Song Yirui. It was a case of “flies don’t land where there are no cracks”—one was tempted by Qiu Jingming’s beauty, the other deliberately seductive. They’d ended up together, though Song Yirui was partly a victim of deception.

Jiang Yuan considered for a moment, then leaned in close to Qiu Jingming’s ear, whispering so only they could hear, “Only you two know what really happened between you. However it came about, I have to thank you. The truth is, I’ve long since fallen out of love with Song Yirui and have been wondering how to break up with him.”

“Thank you, dear… Didi.”

Hearing Jiang Yuan’s words, Qiu Jingming’s eyes widened in disbelief. Jiang Yuan didn’t love Song Yirui? Wanted to break up? No, impossible. How could Jiang Yuan want to end things with Song Yirui? Just over a month ago, Jiang Yuan had stayed up all night working on a mecha model as a gift for Song Yirui!

If he didn’t care, how could he do that?

Jiang Yuan must be lying!

Qiu Jingming thought this, but then he caught a whiff of faint Alpha pheromones on Jiang Yuan, as if confirming his words.

He recognized this scent from his heat day. It was so pleasant he’d never forgotten it.

Among those present, one person carried the same scent—clearly the Alpha accompanying Jiang Yuan today. He’d seen this man that day too. Jiang Yuan and this person must have some secret relationship!

The man was strikingly handsome; Qiu Jingming had been so stunned by his looks and aura that his heart skipped a beat.

While many Omegas desire handsome, dashing Alphas, this man was different. He inspired no thoughts of pursuit or covetousness—only feelings of inadequacy…

Compared to him, Song Yirui fell far short. Anyone would know how to choose between the two!

Jiang Yuan had long since fallen out of love with Song Yirui. He hadn’t been mistaken that day—Jiang Yuan really wasn’t upset. For him, it was a relief. Jiang Yuan had always been responsible, and given their talk of marriage, he would never have initiated a breakup even if he’d fallen out of love.

Realizing this, Qiu Jingming felt like vomiting blood. The man he’d proudly snatched from Jiang Yuan was nothing but ‘trash’ Jiang Yuan no longer wanted. And he’d been trying to flaunt this in front of Jiang Yuan.

Qiu Jingming felt this was perhaps his most humiliating day ever. He suddenly stepped back, saying, “Ge, why do you smell of Alpha pheromones? It’s making me uncomfortable.”

He said this firstly to divert Song Yirui’s attention, and secondly because he truly suspected Jiang Yuan.

Hearing Qiu Jingming’s words, Jiang Yuan: “???”

Qiu Jingming turned to Ji Rong, pointing at him hesitantly. “It smells just like his pheromones. What were you two doing?”

Jiang Yuan: “???” What are you imagining?

Qiu Jingming’s implication was clear. Song Yirui’s face, already ashen, turned even darker. He’d noticed a faint scent on Jiang Yuan earlier, and now, hearing Qiu Jingming mention it, his expression turned grim. His eyes fixed on Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong. He’d felt uneasy seeing them together earlier, and now…

“What’s your relationship?” Song Yirui blurted out accusingly.

Jiang Yuan: “???”

At that moment, Ji Rong stepped forward, giving Qiu Jingming a cold look. “What Jiang Yuan and I did is none of your business.”

Qiu Jingming, seemingly upset on Song Yirui’s behalf, said, “Even though this happened between Rui-gege and me, it was due to Alpha-Omega heat. Before that, my brother was always with Rui-gege. They’ve only been broken up for days. Did you know my brother has a boyfriend?”

Ji Rong smiled mysteriously, draping an arm over Jiang Yuan’s shoulder. “I knew. Jiang Yuan told me right away. But I still like him, even if it means being an Alpha mistress.”

Jiang Yuan looked at Ji Rong as if he’d seen a ghost, his expression asking, “What on earth is an ‘Alpha mistress’?”

Some classmates nearby joked:

“Pfft, you guys are hilarious. We just had combat class, and Jiang Yuan was paired with Ji Rong. Isn’t it normal for him to smell like Ji Rong’s pheromones?”

“The audacity to question Jiang Yuan… Still having feelings for him? No way…”

“Honestly, Jiang Yuan’s taste in partners was pretty poor!”

“Poor? There’s someone with even worse taste than Jiang Yuan…”

“Huh?”

Hearing Bai Ming say there was someone with worse taste than Jiang Yuan, everyone looked at him, clearly asking, “Who?”

Bai Ming coolly replied, “Jiang Yuan’s ex-boyfriend…”

The crowd immediately gave Bai Ming a thumbs up. “You’re the one who sees through to the essence!”

Wasn’t it true? This scumbag Alpha cheated despite having Jiang Yuan—clearly, something was wrong with him. Alphas are indeed affected by pheromones, but most can briefly resist and leave before they fully take over. For this to happen, there must be something wrong with this Alpha to begin with.

Hearing the earlier explanation, Song Yirui felt deeply ashamed. He’d lost his head and questioned Jiang Yuan. Didn’t he know what kind of person Jiang Yuan was? Jiang Yuan would never do something like he had done.

“Hey, are you still coming to the lab with me?”

While everyone was distracted by Song Yirui’s words, the exceptionally beautiful person from earlier looked at Qiu Jingming with a smile, asking.

Qiu Jingming, furious, pointed at the person, jabbing his finger in the air three times. “You… you…”

Song Yirui glared at Qiu Jingming, noticing his guilty demeanor. He suddenly grasped something… He covered Qiu Jingming’s mouth, saying dejectedly, “Jiang Yuan, I’m sorry. I’ll take him away first. We’ll… talk later…”

He dragged Qiu Jingming away, hailed a car, and shoved him inside before getting in himself, his face dark with anger.

“Qiu Jingming, what really happened that day?”

Qiu Jingming: “I told you, I don’t know! I think Jiang Yuan has been with that guy for a while!”

Song Yirui sneered, “Are you still trying to provoke me? Was it earlier than when you seduced me? Jiang Yuan’s only been in school for about a month, and with his character, he’d never do such a thing.”

Hearing Song Yirui accuse him of seduction, Qiu Jingming’s gentle facade crumbled. “He’d never do that? Do you know what he whispered to me earlier?

“He said he’s wanted to break up with you for a long time. You just thought he liked—”

Qiu Jingming’s words caught in his throat. He stared at Song Yirui in disbelief. In his memory… Song Yirui had always been like the boy next door. He’d never shown such a hateful expression, nor had he ever grabbed Qiu Jingming’s throat like this.

The driver, seeing Song Yirui choking Qiu Jingming, trembled in fear: Should he call the police? What if someone dies?

Meanwhile, back at the school gate, the crowd dispersed. Jiang Yuan looked at the beautiful man who had cornered Qiu Jingming with his words and said, “Thank you.”

The beautiful man waved it off, “No problem. I just can’t stand those two. But he called you brother, so you two…”

Jiang Yuan: “Adopted brother.”

Beautiful man: “Oh—”

Ye Nanfeng came to see his cousin Ji Yang at school, but he didn’t expect to encounter this situation. Seeing that Omega’s pitiful act earlier, crying as he explained, made him uncomfortable. It’s because of Omegas like this that Alphas naturally assume Omegas are soft and should stay at home as breeding machines. It was infuriating!

Because this beautiful Omega cried, he keenly noticed the surrounding Alphas’ contemptuous attitudes beginning to waver.

As an Omega himself, he couldn’t bear to watch! These Alphas really lose their minds at the sight of a pretty Omega!

Don’t they know?

Beautiful Omegas can be deceitful!

If they’d paid attention in biology class, they wouldn’t be so easily fooled. This batch of juniors is just as stupid. It’s been nearly three years since he graduated, yet these Alphas are still so arrogant and foolish.

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