Cocoon (Lily ABO) - Chapter 3

The cramped car interior was thick with the mellow scent of red wine. Ling Yu gripped the steering wheel with both hands, exerting every ounce of self-control to keep her eyes off the Omega beside her, who was currently panting softly and wantonly releasing her alluring pheromones.

Despite having the air circulation on full blast, Ling Yu felt as if the pheromones in this confined space were going to drive her insane.

To make matters worse, Han Jingman was no longer satisfied with the faint scent of milk clinging to the backpack. Driven by her Omega instincts, she struggled to move closer to Ling Yu’s seat.

Ling Yu was currently radiating pheromones that made her irresistible, but the restraint of the seatbelt kept Han Jingman from moving forward. She began to reach out, her hands groping toward Ling Yu’s side.

Han Jingman hated her body for losing control like this. Under the physiological pressure of heat, she was powerless. Every inch of her skin craved the soothing touch of pheromones; she could even sense the shameful dampness between her legs.

Concentrating on driving was pure agony for Ling Yu. Han Jingman was far from quiet in the passenger seat; she struggled constantly, her voice slurring as she mumbled Ling Yu’s name.

“Ling Yu… I don’t feel good… Ling Yu…”

Han Jingman’s hand reached over and found Ling Yu’s smooth forearm, clutching it tightly. “Ling… Ling Yu…”

Ling Yu had been relying on sheer willpower to drive straight to Han Jingman’s house in one go, but now, suddenly entangled by her, the hand holding the steering wheel began to tremble.

“Han Jingman, don’t play around. I’m driving. Let go,” Ling Yu pleaded, not daring to shake her off. She was forced to leave her right arm free for Han Jingman to cling to. Fortunately, it was only a short distance to Han Jingman’s home, and even the traffic lights were cooperating tonight, staying green all the way.

By the time they safely reached the bottom of Han Jingman’s apartment building, Ling Yu’s light-colored top was soaked dark with sweat.

Daring not to linger a moment longer—knowing that every minute sooner Han Jingman took the suppressor was a minute sooner they would both be free—Ling Yu carefully adjusted Han Jingman so she was leaning comfortably against her back, and then hoisted her up.

The apartment building Han Jingman lived in was only five stories high and had no elevator. Naturally, she lived on the fifth floor.

Ling Yu supported Han Jingman’s soft, delicate body, her heart’s desire panting in her ear. Even through the fabric of her clothes, she could feel the heat radiating from Han Jingman’s skin.

The hallway lights flickered on floor by floor, finally stopping at the fifth.

With one arm hooked around Han Jingman’s body to keep her from sliding down, Ling Yu struggled to fish the keys out of her backpack with the other.

Ling Yu lay on the floor, dazed and dizzy. The moment she had opened the door, she had been practically pulled inside by Han Jingman’s weight. Fearing that Han Jingman would fall, Ling Yu had instinctively used her own body as a human cushion.

After a long day of work, her body, mind, and stamina had reached their absolute limit.

Ling Yu closed her eyes, wishing she could just drift off to sleep right there.

However, Han Jingman, lying beside her, was relentless. She tugged at Ling Yu’s clothes, her low pants mingled with soft sobs.

“Ugh… Ling Yu… I want water…”

I must have owed you in a past life.

Ling Yu gritted her teeth, rolled away slightly on the floor, and used the last of her strength to stand up and help Han Jingman onto the sofa.

Suppressors.

Ling Yu’s mind was fixed on nothing else.

But when she opened the box Han Jingman used to store her suppressors, she froze.

The box was empty.

Silently cursing in her head, Ling Yu rushed back to find her “little ancestor.”

“Han Jingman, where are your suppressors? I remember you had spares. Do you still know where you put them?”

“Han Jingman? Professor Han? Sister Han? Can you hear me?”

No matter how earnestly Ling Yu pleaded, Han Jingman remained silent. Her entire body felt sticky and tight, the blood in her veins felt like it was boiling, and her mind was a chaotic haze.

“Hot… I want water…”

Ling Yu hurriedly turned on the air conditioner and the air purifier, then went to the fridge to pour her a glass of water.

Han Jingman had no strength left to hold the cup, so Ling Yu had to half-cradle the delicate Omega, feeding her the water sip by sip.

Perhaps because she was so parched, Han Jingman’s small, exquisite lips kept chasing the rim of the glass. Because she was swallowing so eagerly, even the corners of her eyes were flushed red with the effort.

Ling Yu could never bear to see Han Jingman suffer like this. She freed one hand to tenderly stroke Han Jingman’s back, helping her catch her breath.

As the cool water went down her throat and the room temperature dropped, Han Jingman began to feel much more comfortable. When Ling Yu moved the glass away, Han Jingman’s pink tongue darted out, greedily licking the last drop of water from the corner of her mouth.

Having had enough water, she leaned contentedly into Ling Yu’s embrace, enjoying the pleasant sensation of being enveloped in the scent of milk.

Seeing Han Jingman clinging to her chest and refusing to get up, Ling Yu felt a bitter pang in her heart.

Sure, you’re comfortable now, but you can’t control your pheromones at all.

No healthy, adult Alpha could resist the pheromones being released by the charmingly lovely Han Jingman at this moment. Ling Yu felt she was losing control over her own physiological reactions; her pheromones were desperately trying to respond to Han Jingman’s. It was lethal.

Fortunately, having gained a moment of physical and mental satisfaction, Han Jingman was finally able to speak. “Ling Yu? Why is it you? Why are you in my house?” Finding herself nestled in Ling Yu’s arms on her own sofa, Han Jingman was momentarily confused.

Ling Yu was at a loss for words, not knowing where to begin.

As her consciousness returned, Han Jingman slowly remembered everything that had happened in the parking lot.

She vaguely recalled having an argument with Ling Yu, but before she could even figure out how to talk to her, she had been plunged into a forced heat.

Worse still, because she had been so busy with Ling Yu’s graduation thesis over the past few months, she hadn’t had time to visit the doctor for a new prescription after her suppressors ran out last month. She had thought there was still time since her heat cycle wasn’t due for a while and planned to restock next week. But man proposes, and God disposes.

After piecing together the situation, Han Jingman was overcome by a profound sense of powerlessness. She knew her body well; even if she could think and speak now, without a suppressor, this fleeting clarity would soon be overwhelmed by the rising tide of passion.

Han Jingman felt weak all over and her body was burning. Her clothes had long been soaked through, and they felt uncomfortably clingy against her skin.

She frowned and sat up from Ling Yu’s embrace. This was too much; it was unseemly. “Ling Yu, we need to have a talk.”

Seeing the sober Han Jingman, Ling Yu suddenly turned into a “good girl,” her eyes looking at Han Jingman obediently as she nodded quickly.

“As you can see, I’ve likely been induced into an early heat. Unfortunately, I can’t take any suppressors right now. So, once this passes, let’s schedule a time to talk about your recent behavior. I have many questions for you, and I’d like us to be honest with each other. How does that sound?”

How could Ling Yu possibly say no? Staring at the woman who had transformed back into a “boss-lady” mentor in a split second, she nodded obediently. She figured she would just do her best to coax Han Jingman back later. Han Jingman couldn’t bear to stay mad at her; Ling Yu knew that in her heart.

Seeing no objection from Ling Yu, Han Jingman stood up, satisfied. “This is my first time being induced, so I’m not sure how long it will last. But based on my current control over my body and mind, I think it’s almost over.”

Every Omega is different. For some, an induced heat can last as long as a normal one—three days. For others, it might only be an hour or two. She couldn’t use other Omegas as a reference, and in truth, Han Jingman was unsure herself. Since it was her first time, she could only hope it was the short-term kind.

Ling Yu hadn’t dared to speak since Han Jingman regained consciousness. Watching her mentor—now clear-headed and logically laying out a plan for their talk—Ling Yu gave a small “mhm” but said nothing else.

Han Jingman’s mood wasn’t great. She could sense Ling Yu’s deliberate distance; the closeness and reliance from when they were younger were completely gone.

The child has grown up. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Han Jingman pursed her lips, clearly dismissing her guest.