IMAO Chapter 51

“Do you think it smells good?” Ji Rong paused, his pitch-black starlit eyes fixed intently on Jiang Yuan.

Although Jiang Yuan found it unpleasant, Ji Rong used the concealer entirely for his sake. He couldn’t bring himself to say, ‘It stinks,’ so he steeled himself, nodded, and said, “Actually, once you get used to it, it smells quite nice.”

Ji Rong visibly relaxed at Jiang Yuan’s words. “I knew it.”

Seeing Ji Rong’s delighted expression and meeting those obsidian eyes filled with joy, Jiang Yuan gave himself full score for his response—

Bros before woes¹“兄弟为我，我为兄弟！” (xiōng dì wèi wǒ, wǒ wèi xiōng dì) literally translates to “Brothers for me, I for brothers!” I cannot find any origin for this phrase but it should be something like “just as my brothers stand by me, I stand by my brothers.” I used “bros before woes” to capture both the meaning and the lighthearted, self-congratulatory tone of the moment. If you have better phrase to translate it to, please let me know.! 

Although the strawberry-flavored concealer was sickeningly sweet, he would never discriminate against his bro!

Pushing aside his scattered thoughts, Jiang Yuan noticed Gu Bai chatting with Cyril nearby. Suddenly, Gu Bai’s gaze swept across everyone, “By the way, does anyone want to visit the Hoyt Museum tomorrow? I’d like to check it out.”

“We still have several days before the competition, so there’s no rush.”

The Hoyt Museum was the largest museum in the entire interstellar space, housing countless treasures. It contained antiques from various nations, even ceramics dating back to ancient Earth.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yuan said, “Sure, count me in.”

Ji Rong: “I’ll go too.”

With everyone in agreement, early the next day, after informing He Chuan, the group left the Silver Palace for the Hoyt Museum.

The museum was massive; it took them two hours just to explore the first exhibition hall.

As they entered the second hall, Jiang Yuan overheard two young Omegas whispering quietly nearby.

“It looks like that? Alphas are too scary!”

“I-I’m seeing this for the first time too, but it says this is the normal range…”

“Surely this can’t be safe? It looks terrifying!”

Jiang Yuan’s eyebrows arched slightly. He wasn’t naive; he knew exactly what the Omegas were discussing. But why discuss such things in an exhibition hall?

When he walked further into the exhibition hall, he immediately understood why…

The second hall’s theme covered the developmental history of ABO genders, displaying specimens and models. No wonder those Omegas were blushing…

While Jiang Yuan pondered this, Gu Bai and the others were also exploring. The exhibits here were indeed quite blush-inducing.

Jiang Yuan walked to the Alpha section, his eyes scanning over the models with an outwardly calm expression. However, internally, he was shocked. This was drastically different from his time before transmigrating. This thing… was simply outrageous! How could Omegas handle this?

As Jiang Yuan withdrew his gaze, he noticed someone watching him. Following the line of sight, he caught Ji Rong’s perfect profile, looking devastatingly handsome in the interplay of light and shadow.

He noticed Ji Rong’s ears were bright red, flushed as if he had a fever.

Even the Omegas’ ears weren’t this red, yet here was an Alpha…

Jiang Yuan suddenly recalled the strawberry-flavored concealer Ji Rong bought yesterday and everything clicked. Ji Rong was such a girlish Alpha, definitely pure. His blushing made perfect sense. When they first met, before getting to know him, Jiang Yuan had assumed Ji Rong was experienced, but he turned out to be a complete novice, who could crash and burn at any moment.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Yuan said softly.

“Okay.”

As they continued walking, they encountered a group of students visiting the museum led by a young Beta who appeared to be their teacher. The teacher was explaining Omega-related knowledge to the students.

“In 4251, the first Omega with incomplete gland development was discovered domestically. These Omegas displayed Beta characteristics and underwent a second differentiation around adulthood. During differentiation, they often experienced stress responses and became extremely afraid of Alpha pheromones, which caused them great suffering.”

“In 5214, the first case of an Omega dying while identified as a Beta was recorded in the interstellar system. Examination revealed their glands had failed to develop before adulthood.”

“…”

After the teacher had covered almost all known special Omega cases, a student raised their hand. “Teacher, there’s one type of Omega you haven’t mentioned!”

“Oh?” The teacher raised an eyebrow questioningly.

The student said, “Type-A disguised Omegas!”

The teacher smiled slightly and replied, “I see you’re well-informed. Although it’s mostly rumors, the Royal Family has never denied the forum discussions about it.”

“Type-A disguised Omegas have only been discovered in Hoyt. These Omegas can disguise their pheromones as Alpha pheromones.”

“That exists?” Gu Bai was startled. Having never heard of this before, he became instantly intrigued and stopped to listen.

“Type-A disguised Omegas represent both a self-protection mechanism and a process of selecting the strong,” the teacher explained briefly. “Simply put, if you’re weaker than the disguised Omega, your brain automatically interprets their pheromones as Alpha pheromones. If you’re stronger, you’ll smell sweet Omega pheromones. This reflection works for both Alphas and Omegas.”

“Only one case has been recorded, occurring within the royal family two hundred years ago. It caused quite a chaos then, with both Omegas and Alphas pursuing that prince… But that gene has long since disappeared.”

Hearing this, the Alpha students looked relieved. Omegas were already rare; if they came with such disguise genes, the Alphas would be devastated!

Good riddance to that gene! Hope it never appears again! The Alpha students thought silently.

“That gene is quite interesting,” Jiang Yuan thought. “It also comes with a selection function.”

Ji Rong nodded beside him. The gene was indeed interesting, but he didn’t need to waste time understanding it. After all, the person he liked wasn’t an Omega, so he needn’t worry about being deceived. Besides, even if Jiang Yuan was an Alpha… well… what’s wrong with AA relationships! He was fine with anything!

“It’d be better if this gene disappears.  Let it stay popular just in Hoyt if it must, but please don’t spread throughout the galaxy!” Gu Bai clicked his tongue, clearly afraid of this terrifying gene. It was practically an Alpha’s natural enemy!

Jiang Yuan snickered, “Didn’t you hear what the teacher just said? This gene only existed in Hoyt’s royal family. Now there are only the Emperor and the Prince Royal left in Hoyt’s royal family, just two people. Even if they had it, how could it spread abroad?”

“That’s true!” Gu Bai found this reasoning logical. Hoyt’s royal family was down to just two people, and the interstellar rumors even claimed the Hoyt Emperor and Prince were in an ‘incestuous relationship’!

Meanwhile, in the palace, Horace, who had just finished handling state affairs, raised his eyebrows slightly and sniffed… who was talking about him?

As they were about to leave, some students noticed Jiang Yuan, Ji Rong, and their group, their eyes gleaming with interest.

The Omegas flocked over in unison.

Gu Bai: “Damn, I sense a romantic encounter coming, but are these kids even eighteen?”

Cyril glanced at Gu Bai. “The legal age in Hoyt is sixteen.”

Gu Bai said seriously, “But I’m from the Federation, I follow Federation laws!”

Jiang Yuan: “…”

Everyone: “…”

The Omega students approached, looking between Gu Bai’s group and Ji Rong, clearly more attracted to Ji Rong’s looks.

Liu Shan lamented miserably, “This is terrible. I’m never going out with Ji Rong again. Back in school, at least I had quite a few pursuers.”

Everyone: “Strongly agree!”

Ji Rong: “…”

“Hi, I’m Qiao Xi. Um… can I have your contact number? You’re really handsome…” a shy Omega said awkwardly.

“Gege! Gege! I want it too!”

“Da Gege, I want it as well!”

Ji Rong’s scalp tingled at the chorus of ‘Gege’ and ‘Da Gege.’ Seeing his companions clearly enjoying the show without helping, Ji Rong felt particularly miserable.

After a moment’s silence, he suddenly looked at the group of young Omegas with a serious expression. “Do you smell the strawberry-flavored concealer?”

“Yes!” Qiao Xi nodded shyly. He actually noticed it earlier and wanted to ask about it.

Ji Rong cleared his throat and winked at the Omegas. “Actually, I’m an Omega too. I don’t do OO relationships.”

Seeing the young Omegas’ jaws practically hitting the floor, Ji Rong smugly made his escape, linking arms with Jiang Yuan and resting his head on his shoulder like a clingy ostrich.

Jiang Yuan: “…”

No one does flirting like Ji Rong!

When an Alpha had no shame, they were truly invincible!

To play along, Jiang Yuan wrapped his arm around Ji Rong’s waist. The group of Omegas watched in dismay as their dream Alpha, ears flushed red, leaned against someone else. They might not have believed it at first, but the strawberry-flavored concealer and those red ears told them everything.

“Damn…”

Their first love had ended as quickly as it began.

“How much longer are you going to hang onto me?” Jiang Yuan turned to look at Ji Rong. “You’re quite heavy.”

Ji Rong: “I’m not sure if they’ve left yet. Who told you to laugh at me earlier?”

Jiang Yuan: “…Then carry on.” He was indeed a bit mean earlier.

Ji Rong was in a good mood and clung to Jiang Yuan for nearly half an hour before reluctantly letting go. After lunch and some more exploring, they drove back to their residence, pulling up to the main entrance.

“Ricks,” Gu Bai pointed at a group of students in Rick military uniforms standing outside before they could exit the car. His tone was naturally unfriendly. Federation-Rick relations had been ice-cold since the war twenty-seven years ago.

The Rick nation was best described as ‘rule by military aristocracy,’ with three top noble families controlling the nation’s lifelines.

Basil Gallop’s family, the Gallops, was one of them.

Their arrival caught the attention of the Rick entourage as well.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Federation people,” a tall male student from the Rick group sneered, releasing strongly aggressive Alpha pheromones detectable from meters away.

The pheromones smelled somewhat like copper, completely different from Ji Rong’s snow cedar scent. Although Jiang Yuan disliked the smell, his body didn’t feel hot, so he ignored this low-level provocation.

As Jiang Yuan walked forward, the male student deliberately stuck out his foot to trip him. Jiang Yuan ignored him and stepped over it.

“Should I call that good temperament or cowardice?” the student asked, arms crossed.

Jiang Yuan glanced back at him. This mess of Alpha pheromones had no effect on him. Alphas always liked comparing pheromone strength, but Jiang Yuan wasn’t an Alpha… He would’ve liked to release his own, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it!

Besides, he found the other’s provocation incredibly childish, like an idiot.

“What did you say?” Hearing the student’s words to Jiang Yuan, Ji Rong grabbed his collar. Although the student was tall, he still fell short of Ji Rong’s height.

“What’s it to you…” The student suddenly froze, catching the strawberry-flavored concealer in the air. His expression turned strange. Usually, only Omegas used concealers…

He looked at Ji Rong strangely. This Federation person who towered over him, gripping his collar and lifting him off the ground, was an Omega?

Most importantly, that face…

Damn gorgeous, totally Alpha-like. Combined with the sickly sweet strawberry concealer, the Rick student stared at Ji Rong, his Adam’s apple bobbing. It really triggered one’s desire to dominate!

“Let… let go, I don’t fight Omegas!” the student stammered, face flushed.

Ji Rong: “Omega?”

As Ji Rong spoke, his explosive Alpha pheromones suddenly burst forth. The surrounding Alphas felt dizzy from the overwhelming, aggressive scent, as if it could tear them apart any second. Their hair stood on end, chills running down their spines.

The Rick student, being held closest to Ji Rong, was directly knocked unconscious by Ji Rong’s oppressive pheromones…

The Rick students:

Damn, an Alpha using strawberry-flavored concealer? Are you toxic or what?

Aren’t you embarrassed? Huh?

Have you no shame? Well?!

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• 1
  “兄弟为我，我为兄弟！” (xiōng dì wèi wǒ, wǒ wèi xiōng dì) literally translates to “Brothers for me, I for brothers!” I cannot find any origin for this phrase but it should be something like “just as my brothers stand by me, I stand by my brothers.” I used “bros before woes” to capture both the meaning and the lighthearted, self-congratulatory tone of the moment. If you have better phrase to translate it to, please let me know.