6. It’s a Fruity Scent

Making the world’s most pitiful and wronged “baby” suffer a headache and forcing him to go save someone is undoubtedly a beastly act.

But since the system wasn’t human, it made sense.

Yin Sangyu, full of anger and resentment, was teleported by the system. His strikes were heavy, and the already flimsy wooden cabin’s wall was smashed with one kick. Shen Ruifeng didn’t even have time to see who it was before being lifted and thrown out, knocked unconscious.

[Ding—Task completed: Save the Villain, 10,000 points earned.]

[Ding—Task completed: First Meeting with the Villain, 1,000 points earned.]

[Ding—Task completed: The Villain’s Secret Base, 1,000 points earned.]

…

A flurry of notifications flooded Yin Sangyu’s mind. Just by showing up, his previously zero points surged rapidly. The system, likely holding back for ages, was thrilled, but Yin Sangyu didn’t care.

Sniffling, he blinked, shedding another pearl-like tear, and looked at the culprit who’d caused his headaches for days.

The slender youth lay unconscious on the ground, his neck marked with bruises from strangulation. His slightly long hair messily covered most of his face, revealing only a pale, pointed chin with a trace of moisture.

The system had stopped Yin Sangyu’s headaches but grew nervous as he stared at Xiao Muyi too long, fearing he might be angry enough to eliminate the villain.

With points now available, the system mall was unlocked, and it was about to recommend various omega pheromone scents to soothe an alpha in susceptibility.

Seeing Yin Sangyu step forward, crouch, and casually lift Xiao Muyi, brushing aside his hair to examine his face closely, the system’s heart leapt to its throat: [Host, the mall is unlocked. Would you like to…]

“He’s actually pretty good-looking.”

Yin Sangyu, taking advantage of Xiao Muyi’s unconsciousness, pinched the soft flesh of his face, slightly puzzled: “He doesn’t look ordinary at all.”

That’s the focus…?

The system hurriedly said: [As long as you like it.]

But the next second, Yin Sangyu grew aggrieved again, eyes misty with tears: “So what if he’s good-looking? Why does he get to lie there while I have to save him?”

[…Because you’re magnanimous, forgiving, kind, and even better-looking.]

Life is tough; even the system had to resort to flattery.

Yin Sangyu let out a cold hum and released Xiao Muyi’s face.

Fortunately, during his susceptibility period, Yin Sangyu only had extreme emotional swings and a tendency to cry, with no impact on his normal intelligence. Plus, their “online dating” rapport, despite the disastrous in-person meeting and Xiao Muyi’s inhumane actions, made it less unbearable, given he was the villain.

Grumbling and feeling wronged, Yin Sangyu still shed pearl-like tears over his precarious fate and the world’s oppression while doing what needed to be done.

He treated Shen Ruifeng’s wounds to ensure he wouldn’t die from blood loss, then placed him on a street bench where someone would soon find him and send him to a hospital.

After this, Yin Sangyu returned to the forest. To prevent Shen Ruifeng from seeking revenge upon waking, he completely destroyed the cabin, erasing evidence, then followed the system’s guidance to take Xiao Muyi back to his rental near the school.

Originally, Yin Sangyu could have gone home to endure his susceptibility period undisturbed.

But while carrying Xiao Muyi back, he caught a faint, delicate fruity scent from the unconscious beta.

The fruity scent wasn’t special; Yin Sangyu had smelled it countless times before. Yet, this time, it inexplicably captivated him, stirring an unconscious yearning that made him reluctant to leave.

In today’s world, with omegas so scarce, alphas, unable to find proper comfort, developed a tendency toward sensitivity.

They weren’t allowed to smell omega pheromones, as it was like: If I’d never seen light, I could endure darkness. It was addictive.

Nor could they smell alpha pheromones, which made them feel violated and violently irritable, a fire hard to quell.

For societal peace, alpha pheromones were strictly controlled. In public, alphas wore sealing patches on their napes. Unintentionally leaking pheromones was akin to walking naked in the street.

But Yin Sangyu had come abruptly, unprepared, and in his susceptibility period. His overpowering, oppressive pheromones couldn’t be contained, spreading throughout the room.

Fortunately, the area was full of betas who couldn’t smell pheromones, or it would have caused chaos.

Unaware that pheromones were drawing him, Yin Sangyu lingered by Xiao Muyi’s bedside. His water-blue eyes deepened, roiling with an alpha’s innate possessiveness, fixed on the sleeping beta.

He knew he wanted something from Xiao Muyi but didn’t know where to start.

The system asked curiously: [Weren’t you eager to get back?]

“No rush.”

Yin Sangyu’s eyes glinted. Deciding not to suppress himself, he leaned down, hands braced on the bed, close to Xiao Muyi’s neck, sniffing carefully. Sure enough, he found that scent again, instantly enchanting him.

So he went further, almost instinctively licking. A wet trail grazed the bruised strangulation marks on Xiao Muyi’s neck, sparking an ambiguous air.

The system paused. Perhaps Yin Sangyu’s opportunistic behavior deserved condemnation, but for the sake of redeeming the villain, it supported him.

[As I told you before, Host, your compatibility with the villain is 100%. I hope you’ll be more proactive with tasks.]

Yin Sangyu realized his behavior was like a creep’s. He pulled back slightly but was unwilling to get up. After a moment’s struggle, he lay down beside Xiao Muyi.

He reached out, tentatively touching Xiao Muyi’s shoulder, hesitating briefly before following his heart, pulling the overly frail villain into his arms.

The feeling of a filled embrace seemed to soothe the emptiness in his heart, calming his surging sorrow and grievances. Closing his eyes, tears spilled, sliding onto Xiao Muyi’s shoulder.

This crying was like when, as a child, he’d been bullied outside and rushed into his mother’s arms upon returning home.

Yin Sangyu knew he was acting like an inexplicable fool, disgracefully sobbing while holding a beta, yet his heart was strangely joyful, unwilling to let go.

Unsure why he was acting abnormally, he attributed it to the system’s claim of a terrifying 100% compatibility.

Finally, as Xiao Muyi was about to wake, Yin Sangyu ignored the system’s bad advice to stay, reluctantly letting go.

He was only in his susceptibility period, not foolish. Based on the novel’s description of Xiao Muyi, the villain wouldn’t thank him for saving his life upon waking—more likely, he’d want to silence him.

Driven by alpha instincts, Yin Sangyu found the strangulation marks on Xiao Muyi’s neck bothersome. He exchanged points with the system for a topical bruise-relief ointment, applied it, and left just in time.

Minutes after Yin Sangyu’s departure, Xiao Muyi jolted awake from a dream, the sensation of suffocation lingering. He instinctively touched his neck, feeling moisture, and quickly withdrew his hand.

Warily scanning his surroundings, he realized he was back in his rental room. Then he noticed the thick alpha pheromones in the air, weakening his body.

His face darkened. Supporting himself on the bed, he struggled to sit up and check himself, relieved to find he was still fully dressed. But moving revealed a damp sensation in his pants.

Under the influence of alpha pheromones, his body’s instinctive reaction was unavoidable. Fortunately, he’d injected suppressants days ago and was unconscious, avoiding a forced heat period, or the consequences would’ve been unpredictable.

Such unrestrained alpha pheromones suggested the alpha was in their susceptibility period. No reason they’d spare meat delivered to their mouth. Being unharmed at least meant his secret hadn’t been discovered.

Soaked in alpha pheromones wasn’t pleasant. Xiao Muyi gritted his teeth, dragged his weakened body off the bed, changed into clean clothes, and opened the window to air out the scent.

Fresh air cleared his mind considerably.

Sitting back on the bed, without a mirror, he touched his neck again, dabbing the cool, wet substance and sniffing it, confirming it was ointment.

Xiao Muyi felt a strange twinge—this was the first time someone had treated his wounds—but he quickly dismissed it, looking at the outer side of the bed, where clear signs of someone having slept remained.

And here…

Lifting his pillow, he found a small wet patch on the white pillowcase. Earlier, while changing, he’d noticed dampness on his shoulder, undoubtedly left by the owner of the air’s pheromones.

Sniffing it, there was no scent. Considering the alpha was in their susceptibility period, had they been crying while holding him…?

The thought of an alpha holding his unconscious self sent chills through Xiao Muyi, his body trembling slightly, hands tightening until his knuckles whitened, crumpling the pillow’s fabric.

He felt no joy at surviving. Instead, he was wary.

Someone had coincidentally burst into the cabin to save him.

Knew his city address.

And now, with no leads to trace Flying Little Rabbit…

All this meant he was being closely watched, his every move exposed to someone’s gaze.