How Long Are You Going to Keep Acting Like A Beta? ABO - Chapter 12

“What do I need to give in return, CEO Qi?” Shu Qian deliberately humored her, resting her forehead on Qi Qing’s shoulder.

Although her last name was Shu, she had never been a focus of attention since she was a child. After she differentiated into an Omega, she became a complete outcast in the family. She wasn’t deprived of food or clothing, but that was it. She didn’t have access to the resources of a wealthy family, so she couldn’t develop a “backbone.”

Everything had to be earned on her own, which taught her how to read people’s expressions and hide her true self. She had graduated from prestigious schools, but her grades were always maintained at a steady middle-of-the-road level—not great, not bad, and completely unnoticeable.

Her “submissive” nature led the family to trade her away as soon as they needed a tool for an arranged marriage. But no one expected the docile Shu Qian, who had been obedient for over twenty years, to leave the Shu family immediately after being chosen for a marriage.

After a long time, she expected to hear Qi Qing’s disgusted contempt. Instead, she heard a laugh from above. Then she was completely embraced, and the faint scent of orchids suddenly became very strong.

The unprepared Shu Qian was smothered in her arms. “…”

“Are you going to agree to my previous request?” Qi Qing said in a flat tone, as if she were discussing business.

If Shu Qian hadn’t known that her request was to become her daily partner to solve their pheromone problems, she would have genuinely thought they were talking about work. She quickly pushed her away, but to her surprise, she was able to push her away with ease. Shu Qian was stunned.

Qi Qing understood what she was thinking and gave a low hum. “I’m not one of those Alphas who only knows how to use brute force. Since my request was not agreed to, then at least we’ll follow your suggestion and follow the regimen provided by the Health Center.” She enunciated the word “regimen” with particular clarity and emphasis.

The double meaning made Shu Qian blush, and she could only look away. “Is that all?”

“That’s all. We’ll maintain the status quo.” Qi Qing hated anything that would cause her to lose control, but Shu Qian was her only exception now. As long as the Omega was nearby, she would feel especially calm. That was why she indulged herself, using any means necessary to keep her here. “Keep coming to work. I need your pheromones to soothe me.” She paused before adding, “You also need me to be around to be most effectively soothed.”

“…Fine. A human air freshener,” Shu Qian said, then laughed at the thought of it.

She rarely had such a genuine smile, and it made Qi Qing’s heart skip a beat.

Shu Qian seemed to have forgotten that she was still sitting on her lap. Qi Qing’s hand was on her lower back, preventing her from falling. They had done much more intimate things, but those were purely sexual and physical, devoid of emotion. Their current simple closeness brought a strange feeling to Qi Qing’s heart.

It felt sticky, sour, strange, and disgusting. Qi Qing thought, lowering her eyes. As if to escape this strange feeling, she reached out and pushed Shu Qian away, avoiding her as if she were a plague.

Shu Qian stood there blankly. When she saw Qi Qing frown in disgust, she shrugged it off. She was just an emotionless air freshener.

When Shu Qian came out of the office, Xu Yuxi immediately called her over and asked with concern, “Did the CEO Qi agree? Did she let you stay?”

“Yes…” Shu Qian nodded. Although she wasn’t very willing, she still acted happy in front of Xu Yuxi. “CEO Qi said I can continue to work as usual. Thank you, Sister Yuxi.” She sincerely thanked her.

This kind of sisterly concern was a rare thing for Shu Qian, who didn’t want to resist it. Xu Yuxi was genuinely looking out for her and wanted to train her. It was just a shame that she was destined to disappoint Xu Yuxi.

“That’s great.” Xu Yuxi was genuinely happy for her. “Then you need to work harder and not let the CEO Qi’s expectations go to waste.”

“…” Shu Qian could only smile.

“Do your part, don’t bother the CEO Qi as an Omega, and keep your pheromones in check. Work hard.”

Shu Qian could barely maintain her smile. She couldn’t help but wonder if Xu Yuxi would still give her these instructions if she knew that all of her annual leave had been spent in bed with Qi Qing and what Qi Qing had said to her in her office.

The thought of her annual leave made her expression change. “Oh, right, Sister Yuxi, I need you to sign a leave form…” She felt a pang of heartache, thinking about how all of her annual leave was gone.

Xu Yuxi remembered the three days of leave she had taken. She had wanted to say something to her, but then she remembered that she was an Omega. Her face showed a hint of pity, and she reached out to pat her head. “It must have been hard. It must be painful to go through your heat cycle alone, and now all your annual leave is gone.”

“…” Shu Qian no longer felt like smiling.

Her pitiful expression only made Xu Yuxi feel more sympathetic. She didn’t have a younger sister, so she took a little extra care of Shu Qian. “If there’s anything you need help with, just let me know.”

Shu Qian obediently nodded.

Inside her office, Qi Qing watched their heartwarming interaction and felt a little uncomfortable. She blamed it on the Alpha’s damn instinctive possessiveness toward her marked Omega.

How vile and shameless.

She quietly opened the “Pheromone Imbalance Regimen” table on her desktop, which she had gotten from the Health Center. It recommended a total of six times together during heat.

“Four more times…” Qi Qing mumbled to herself.

She calculated that she would need Shu Qian for about four more months. Then she remembered her and Xu Yuxi’s intimate behavior. Qi Qing felt very uncomfortable and hoped that these four months would pass quickly so she could end her current state of losing control.