Wake Up, I’m A Beta - Chapter 5

That question…

Mu Suiyun smiled a little awkwardly. “Because I’m old-fashioned, conservative, traditional, and weak. I don’t want to break away from my family, so I’m willing to obey my elders.”

She described herself in an utterly unflattering way, yet her expression and posture remained relaxed and at ease, openly accepting the parts of her personality that others might criticize.

Ning Zhifan looked at Mu Suiyun like this, watching the smile on her face.

It was precisely because Mu Suiyun was this kind of person that she felt such an excessive sense of responsibility toward her fiancée, allowing Ning Zhifan to easily benefit from it.

But… perhaps because her gland was still out of control, or perhaps because the wedding dresses had stirred something in her, Ning Zhifan didn’t want the conversation to end there.

A sudden curiosity rose inside her.

Did Mu Suiyun really not hope, even a little, that her wife would be someone she loved?

Of course, Ning Zhifan wouldn’t ask it that way.

She only said, “Do you think we’ll make suitable partners after we get married?”

Mu Suiyun paused slightly.

Ning Zhifan could tell she hadn’t expected her to ask that.

“We will.” Mu Suiyun answered almost immediately. She nodded, then patted the spot beside her. “Zhifan, do you want to sit down and talk?”

She seemed to think the answer would take a while and didn’t want Ning Zhifan standing there.

Ning Zhifan walked over and sat beside her.

Without a suppressant patch covering her gland, pheromones continued to seep out. Ning Zhifan could sense her pheromones drifting toward Mu Suiyun.

She frowned slightly and tried to pull them back.

She’s only a beta. No matter how hard you try, she has no ability to respond to your signals.

Ning Zhifan thought irritably, as though warning her own gland.

Fortunately, Mu Suiyun was a beta and noticed none of it. That meant when Ning Zhifan realized her pheromones were still somewhat out of control, she didn’t have to feel awkward.

Mu Suiyun turned sideways to face Ning Zhifan properly and said seriously, “Is it because the wedding is getting close that you’ve started having some concerns?”

No.

Ning Zhifan thought.

She had been worried from the moment this marriage was arranged.

“I’ve never had a lover before,” Mu Suiyun said. “I don’t think I’ve ever really dreamed about romantic love, but I have thought about building a family. Maybe you don’t quite understand.”

She smiled again, this time with a hint of shyness.

“I believe I can become very good family with my wife. We can accompany and support each other and spend the rest of our lives together.”

Ning Zhifan began to understand what she meant.

She asked, “Even without love?”

“Mm…” Mu Suiyun’s face reddened slightly. “Saying something like this to you almost sounds like I’m hinting at something, but I don’t mean it that way. I already thought like this before.”

She continued, “I think feelings can develop over time. Zhifan, I feel very comfortable around you. I’ll cherish you, care about you, and support you. You can rely on me.”

Ning Zhifan looked into Mu Suiyun’s eyes.

Her eyes had such a gentle shape, and whenever she spoke seriously, they became especially captivating, making people feel the sincerity in her words and want to believe what she said.

…Someone like her would probably do well starting a business too. She could likely attract plenty of employees willing to follow her wholeheartedly.

“Of course!” Mu Suiyun quickly explained. “I’m not saying you’ll definitely like me. I only mean that you can think of me as someone you can trust.”

Ning Zhifan said, “Family?”

Mu Suiyun nodded. “Family.”

It was as though a calm, reassuring presence spread from Mu Suiyun toward Ning Zhifan, gently surrounding her, as if trying to draw her into that same sense of security.

Her gland suddenly stung.

Ning Zhifan couldn’t help frowning and letting out a muffled groan.

Mu Suiyun startled. “Zhifan?”

Ning Zhifan had already fallen weakly into her arms.

She bit her lip, refusing to let herself make any more suggestive sounds that would leave her with no dignity at all.

…Something was wrong.

She had already injected a suppressant today.

How could she be like this again?

Her body was burning, even her consciousness turning hazy. All that remained by her ear was her fiancée’s worried voice.

Ning Zhifan could barely hear what she was saying.

She wrapped both arms around Mu Suiyun’s neck, biting down hard on her lip as she fought against her body’s reactions.

Suddenly, she was lifted off the ground.

Mu Suiyun’s hand supported the backs of her knees.

She was forced to hold on even tighter.

What was her fiancée doing?

“Sorry…”

Ning Zhifan managed to hear Mu Suiyun’s apology, but not the rest.

It seemed she could only focus on Mu Suiyun, yet at the same time could no longer focus on her at all.

She could only feel and struggle against her own body.

The feverish heat made her bury her face against Mu Suiyun.

Ning Zhifan breathed heavily, desperately needing pheromones that could blend with hers.

Her icy pheromones frantically burrowed into Mu Suiyun’s hair, shamelessly clinging to the back of her neck, trying to find a gland and provoke a responding heat.

But no matter how they searched, there was only smooth, delicate skin on the back of the beta’s neck.

There was no slightly raised gland at all.

She heard her fiancée apologizing again.

Her hair was brushed aside.

Her fiancée’s fingertips touched her burning skin, making her body tremble. Ning Zhifan clutched Mu Suiyun’s clothes, fear rising inside her—

and beneath that fear, a hidden longing.

…I want her to bite me.

“Mm…”

The pain of a needle piercing her gland made Ning Zhifan groan softly.

She realized Mu Suiyun had injected her with a suppressant.

This time, the beta hadn’t needed her reminder.

Yet an indescribable sense of humiliation rose inside Ning Zhifan.

All she could smell was the overwhelming scent of her own pheromones, so strong it even prevented her from picking up Mu Suiyun’s scent, even though…

Mu Suiyun was holding her right in her arms.

Mu Suiyun waited for Ning Zhifan to calm down.

She thought about the book she had read earlier that day. It had said:

[During heat, an omega needs more than an alpha’s pheromones. They also need intimate contact with their lover—hugs, kisses, caresses. More physical contact between partners can help an omega get through heat more smoothly.]

Of course Mu Suiyun wouldn’t take it upon herself to become intimate with Ning Zhifan.

But Ning Zhifan was resting against her as though relying on her, so Mu Suiyun gently wrapped her arms around her in return, hoping it would provide some comfort.

After a long while, Ning Zhifan lightly pushed against her.

Mu Suiyun understood the signal.

She released her, deliberately not looking at Ning Zhifan, and asked softly, “Do you need me to do anything else, or should I just leave?”

…Asking something like that at a time like this—

Even though Ning Zhifan knew Mu Suiyun didn’t mean anything by it, she still felt embarrassed and annoyed.

“Go.”

“Okay.” Mu Suiyun said quietly, “Then I… need to move you off me first?”

Otherwise, she couldn’t leave.

Only then did Ning Zhifan realize she was sitting on Mu Suiyun’s lap.

Perhaps because the suppressant hadn’t completely calmed her heat yet, a vivid flush immediately spread across her face.

She hurriedly got off Mu Suiyun and sat on the bed, urging her in mortification, “Hurry up and go.”

Mu Suiyun inexplicably felt her own face heating up too.

She threw out, “Get some rest,”

then fled Ning Zhifan’s room at top speed.

Less than a minute later, Ning Zhifan’s phone vibrated.

She picked it up and looked.

[Suiyun: I’ll be staying up late tonight. If there’s anything you need me to do, just message me.]

Ning Zhifan knew Mu Suiyun was simply showing normal concern for her.

Even so, she immediately turned off her phone screen and tossed it onto the pillow.

Her fiancée was unbearably annoying.

After taking a long time to calm down, Ning Zhifan went into the en suite bathroom and examined her gland in the mirror.

The pink gland was swollen, even pinker than usual, as though eagerly waiting for someone to bite into it.

The beautiful, aloof woman frowned.

Her expression was icy, completely at odds with the lingering flush that had yet to fade from her face.

This situation was far too unusual.

Ning Zhifan had never experienced suddenly falling into such a state of heat after injecting a suppressant in advance.

Omegas did not constantly crave marks and pheromones throughout their heat.

During the few days a heat lasted, the need would come in waves. After injecting a suppressant, those waves would occur less frequently.

Although suppressants couldn’t completely eliminate an omega’s cravings during heat, they could keep an omega clear-headed and prevent them from falling into a state where they lost awareness and craved nothing but pheromones.

As an S-rank omega, Ning Zhifan had always taken pride in her control over her pheromones.

In the past, as long as she injected a suppressant ahead of time during heat, she could go about her life exactly as usual, completely unaffected.

But now…

What exactly was happening to her?

—

[Ning Xiaoye: Sister Yunyun!]

[Ning Xiaoye: Can I come see you and Sister?]

[Ning Xiaoye: Mom won’t let me come over and disturb you two, but… I really miss Sister.]

When Mu Suiyun received Ning Ye’s messages, she had just finished her workout for the day.

She washed her hands first, then replied:

[Xiaoye, Xiaoye, report your location.]

Ning Ye immediately became delighted and hurriedly sent her address.

[Captain Yunyun, your team member is ready and prepared to depart at any moment!]

Mu Suiyun glanced at the address.

[Arriving in half an hour.]

[Copy that!]

Ning Ye even sent a sticker of a cat saluting.

The moment Mu Suiyun saw the cat, it looked strangely familiar.

She instinctively saved the sticker, then suddenly realized where all those cute stickers Ning Zhifan sent had come from.

She smiled, put away her phone, showered, and went to pick Ning Ye up.

It wasn’t until she was already on her way that this unemployed idler suddenly realized—

today was a weekday.

Mu Suiyun looked at the school address Ning Ye had sent her.

…Didn’t she have class today?

—

“You’re Ning Ye’s guardian?”

The homeroom teacher looked over the gentle, attractive young beta. “What is your relationship to her?”

Mu Suiyun, who had already realized Ning Ye had tricked her into coming over to help her skip school, could only smile.

“I’m her…”

“Sister-in-law!” Ning Ye answered first.

Mu Suiyun nodded. “Mm.”

The homeroom teacher knew these students all came from wealthy families she couldn’t afford to offend, but she still had to check with Ning Ye’s guardian. If something happened to the girl’s safety afterward, she would be the one in trouble.

“Please wait a moment,” the homeroom teacher said. “I’ll call Ning Ye’s mother.”

Ning Ye wailed, “No! Teacher, just call my Sister! My sister-in-law is the one picking me up, so obviously you should contact my Sister.”

The homeroom teacher snorted, but ultimately indulged her and called Ning Zhifan instead.

There really were two emergency guardian contacts listed.

Mu Suiyun hadn’t managed to stop her in time.

Looking at the excited Ning Ye, she sighed inwardly.

Dear little sister.

Still too young.

If they called Aunt Ning, with Mu Suiyun standing right there, how could Aunt Ning possibly refuse?

But calling Ning Zhifan…

that was much less certain.

The homeroom teacher put the call on speaker.

After ringing several times, the call connected.

“Hello, Teacher Qi.”

Ning Zhifan’s cool, pleasant voice came through the phone.

“Did something happen to Xiaoye?”

Ning Ye shrank her neck and hid beside Mu Suiyun, wrapping both arms around hers.

She had only just started middle school this year and had not yet reached the age of secondary differentiation.

The homeroom teacher was clearly momentarily mesmerized by Ning Zhifan’s voice before snapping back to herself.

“Sorry to bother you. Xiaoye said she wanted a family member to take her for a medical checkup, so she asked your wife to come over. I wanted to confirm with you whether your wife can take Xiaoye away.”

Wife…?

There was a two-second pause on the other end of the call before Ning Zhifan replied,

“Yes. From now on, my wife can represent me. You can rest assured.”

Ning Ye let out an excited cheer.

Children loved nothing more than watching this sort of excitement.

Beside her, Mu Suiyun’s cheeks reddened slightly.

Unexpectedly, Ning Zhifan continued over the phone.

“Teacher Qi, could you please hand the phone to my wife?”

“O-okay.”

The homeroom teacher passed the phone to Mu Suiyun.

Mu Suiyun took it.

“Zhifan, it’s me.”

“Don’t spoil her too much.”

Ning Zhifan reminded her gently.

“I’ll come find you both after work.”

Mu Suiyun’s ears grew hot.

“…Mm.”

She knew this was simply the mode Ning Zhifan adopted whenever her mother and younger sister were around.

They were the same in that regard.

Neither wanted their families to worry about their relationship.

Even so, she still thought that Ning Zhifan, when she softened her voice like this…

was very charming.

—

After hanging up the phone.

Ning Zhifan gripped the examination report in her hand and recalled what the doctor had told her.

“Your pheromones are in disorder,” the doctor said. “You’ve never received an alpha’s mark or pheromones before. Because you’re an S-rank omega, you’ve been able to endure it, but it’s like compressing a spring. You can push it down farther than other omegas, but when it finally rebounds, it rebounds even harder.”

“If you don’t want your gland to be affected and develop lesions or atrophy, I suggest finding a highly compatible alpha partner as soon as possible so you can receive a mark and allow your pheromones to properly harmonize.”