Chapter 3: Gift
Su Mi struggled to move her gaze away from the cold, ice-like skin.
Her heart was pounding strangely, probably due to nervousness. Facing the villain for the first time, she was overwhelmed by her aura.
As described in the original plot, the villain was indeed very good-looking—so much so that it was almost blinding.
The back of her neck felt warm, as if something was pulsing beneath the skin, nearly transmitting through the barrier patch.
But as the cold neared, her glands abruptly calmed down, as if sprayed with a strong suppressant.
Shen Han walked past them to the bookshelf by the wall, picked out a book and a record, placed the record in the gramophone in the corner, then approached them, handing the book to Xu Nanqiao.
“Thank you,” Shen Han said, her tone controlled and polite.
Shen Han returned to the desk, adjusting the lamp to shine on them.
She sat alone in the darkness, the leather of the chair creaking slightly as she leaned back, watching them. She waited silently like the mountains behind her.
In summary—
Xu Nanqiao routinely opened the book, skimmed the table of contents, and began reading softly from the first chapter, accompanied by the gentle music from the record.
Su Mi: …
She tried not to look at Shen Han, turning instead to watch Xu Nanqiao read, feeling a bit bewildered.
Indeed, the scene of a quiet, gentle Omega sitting in front of a high-backed sofa chair, straight-backed, neatly dressed, and reading softly, was beautiful like a painting.
The dangerous authority figure and the gentle student made a good pair.
But… really?
Are you two really just reading in a room together every week?
Xu Nanqiao read for about thirty or forty minutes, finishing a chapter.
There was no clock in the study. By the time Xu Nanqiao closed the book, the floor-to-ceiling windows showed nothing but darkness outside.
Xu Nanqiao seemed very familiar with this routine. She placed the book on Shen Han’s desk, turned around, and prepared to leave with Su Mi.
Shen Han suddenly spoke: “I’ve thought about what you mentioned last time.”
Her voice was different now, lazy, as if she had been satisfied by something.
Xu Nanqiao paused.
Su Mi instinctively held her breath, looking towards Shen Han.
In the darkness, Shen Han’s face was still unclear. The indoor lights only illuminated Xu Nanqiao and Su Mi.
Her tone was indifferent: “I have no intention of forcing or interfering with your school choice. Capital City University is an excellent option. Just focus on your studies and don’t worry about anything else.”
Su Mi quickly raised her head, glanced at Xu Nanqiao, and secretly clenched her fist.
As if to say, see, I told you Shen Han would compromise for you.
Xu Nanqiao still seemed a bit tense, thanked Shen Han, and turned to leave.
Su Mi wanted to follow her out but heard Shen Han say: “Su Mi.”
Su Mi: … Detained.
She obediently sat back down, placing her hands neatly on her lap.
Xu Nanqiao closed the door behind her, leaving the study in silence. The record on the gramophone had reached its end, leaving no sound.
Shen Han: “Congratulations on completing your differentiation. I’ve instructed Secretary Zhuang to order a new Sadura sports car for you. It will be delivered to your home later. If you don’t like it or want something else, let me know.”
Su Mi: …
Her round eyes widened in surprise.
Isn’t this domineering president routine supposed to be for someone else…?
As expected.
Shen Han continued, “Xu Nanqiao is pure-hearted. Although she won’t have any problems getting into Capital City University, her life there might not be as peaceful as it is here at Loran with you and me around. Do you have any plans for your school choice?”
Su Mi: So this is where it’s heading.
In the original novel, this was likely the starting point for the original Su Mi’s jealousy towards Xu Nanqiao.
Previously, the original Su Mi knew that Shen Han never got close to any Omega. Although she was special to Xu Nanqiao, Shen Han always remained indifferent and unaffected.
But regarding the school choice, Shen Han, who had never changed her mind before, compromised for the first time for Xu Nanqiao. To ensure Xu Nanqiao wouldn’t be bullied at Capital City University, she directly instructed the original Su Mi to apply there as well.
The original Su Mi had always aimed to enter high society. Although Capital City University was a top academic institution, it couldn’t compare to St. Croix Academy in terms of connections and student hierarchy, especially since she was Shen Han’s follower and intended to go wherever Shen Han went.
Moreover, the original Su Mi’s recent differentiation result was Omega. Faced with Shen Han and Xu Nanqiao’s interactions, she couldn’t help but think: I am also an Omega, so why can’t Shen Han favor me like she does Xu Nanqiao?
Suppressing her jealousy, she agreed to Shen Han’s request. This led to her first act of bullying Xu Nanqiao, which subsequently triggered the initial meeting between the male and female leads in the original story.
Su Mi sincerely and earnestly replied, “Capital City University is also my dream school.”
She looked towards Shen Han with a devout gaze.
Shen Han chuckled lightly.
“That’s good,” she said, “Secretary Zhuang will arrange everything for you, so don’t worry.”
The previously oppressive atmosphere in the study seemed to lighten up. Su Mi exhaled gently, realizing that the surrounding temperature wasn’t as cold as before.
Shen Han: “It’s getting late. You should head back early so as not to worry your parents.”
Su Mi acknowledged and slowly stood up, glancing towards the desk before heading to the door.
“Su Mi, can you smell anything special in the air?” Shen Han suddenly asked.
“Huh?” Su Mi was startled, then pretended to sniff around curiously and shook her head, “No.”
Shen Han remained silent. Su Mi turned back with a sweet smile, her eyes looking into the darkness, seemingly meeting Shen Han’s icy blue eyes and the striking tear mole beneath her eye.
Su Mi twirled a strand of her short, curly hair around her finger, calmly saying, “Sister, I’m a Beta.”
Shen Han hummed lazily, “Alright, go ahead.”
It wasn’t until Su Mi stepped out of the living room and saw Xu Nanqiao waiting outside that she closed her eyes.
Trying to piece together the villain’s character through the vague plot summary and fragmented memories from the original story was indeed futile.
But… it was very intriguing.
Su Mi’s mind flashed with overlapping images of the tall, beautiful woman with cold, white skin and captivating eyes, mingled with the memory of the heavy, book-filled study and the soft strains of a violin.
Late in realizing, her heart was pounding intensely.
Xu Nanqiao came over and linked arms with her, asking, “Su Mi, are you okay?”
Looking at Xu Nanqiao’s concerned face, Su Mi calmed down.
Weighing the situation, she thought that telling Xu Nanqiao now about also going to Capital City University might be counterproductive.
She shook her head, “She just asked a few questions about my differentiation.”
The two walked hand in hand down the stairs and back to the living room, where Secretary Zhuang was sitting on the sofa, tapping away on his communicator. Su Mi didn’t want to stay long. After being offered a cup of flower tea by the housekeeper, she and Xu Nanqiao got into the car and left.
Back in the car, the climate control system quickly warmed up the interior, and Su Mi let out a breath.
She remembered her earlier feelings and asked casually, “Is it because there are so many mountains around? The villa always feels cold.”
Xu Nanqiao: “Not really. Maybe it’s because you just finished your differentiation period. It’s normal for your body to feel a bit weak.”
Su Mi hummed in agreement, looking at Xu Nanqiao with a bit of surprise but accepting the explanation.
Xu Nanqiao: “Hey, what did you think about going up there today?”
Su Mi: “You want the truth?”
Xu Nanqiao: “Of course.”
Su Mi: “I didn’t expect you were really reading to Shen Han.”
Xu Nanqiao playfully pinched Su Mi’s arm, “Just because you’re a Beta now, you think you can say whatever you want!?”
Su Mi laughed, “You two look pretty good together… Okay, okay, don’t pinch me. I won’t say it anymore.”
She made a gesture of zipping her mouth shut.
Dropping Xu Nanqiao off at her apartment, Su Mi called out before she got out, “Wait, can I ask one more question out of curiosity?”
Su Mi: “What does Shen Han’s pheromone smell like?” Su Mi asked sincerely.
Xu Nanqiao froze, her face flushing red. She lifted her bag, “Didn’t you ever pay attention in common knowledge classes? I’ll hit you with my bag!”
Su Mi quickly closed the car door and sped off.
On the way home, the system provided Su Mi with some information.
In this ABO world, with its advanced technology, pheromone concealment was very effective. Almost no one would leak their pheromone scent in public. Moreover, among AOs, knowing each other’s pheromone scent indicated a very intimate, almost uncontrollable connection.
That’s why Xu Nanqiao was so embarrassed and angry.
So, what was Shen Han trying to test by asking that question before she left?
Su Mi couldn’t figure it out.
Her eyes glanced at the upper right corner, where the dim percentage suddenly glowed, catching her attention.
80%. 1
It dropped by 10%? Just by meeting the female lead and reading for half an hour, the effect was this strong?
The system couldn’t provide specific influencing factors for the rise and fall of the corruption value. The only known factor was the female lead. It seemed that to complete the task, she would have to start with the female lead.
She had to try to prevent the development of feelings between the male and female leads and improve their relationship as much as possible…
Su Mi rubbed her temples and sighed.
Returning to the Su residence, the car automatically parked in the garage. Su Mi noticed the sports car Shen Han had mentioned as a gift. It was a soft yellow, with sleek lines, brand new inside and out, and fully equipped, obviously very expensive.
Su Mi looked it up online and found a long string of zeros after the price.
The interior was likely top-notch as well. Su Mi walked around the sports car, opened the trunk, and found several gifts inside.
The largest item was a golf bag. Su Mi unzipped it to find a few custom-made, gold, diamond-encrusted golf clubs. Alongside them were various luxury brand bags and accessories.
Without the female lead’s insistence on attending Capital City University, the original differentiation period gift might have just been the items in the trunk.
But with the change in university aspirations, the villain added the sports car as a bonus gift.
Rich.
In the original plot, it was mentioned that the female lead disliked being “given” material possessions, so the villain rarely gave her expensive items.
But as a vain little follower, she could benefit from it.
The villain not only wanted to send her to a top domestic university as a “companion student” but also gifted her a luxury car.
So much money given so casually, no wonder the original character was willing to risk pretending to be a Beta to continue being this follower.
Su Mi understood the significance behind this gift, but aside from a sigh, she had no particular thoughts.
She took a few pictures of the car, first sending one to Shen Han.
Su Mi: Sister, I received the car. It’s very nice, thank you ^^
Shen Han replied quickly, though it was just a single word: Good.
Su Mi then chose a few pictures and, following the original character’s habit, posted them on her Moments, subtly showing off: A differentiation period gift from my sister [/heart][/cute].
Taking the private elevator from the basement garage, she went upstairs to her home. Her younger brother, Su Yi, was already asleep. After quietly checking on him at the door, she returned to her room, took a shower, and applied a new blocking patch.
In her mind’s newly posted Moments, there were already over a hundred likes, and the comments were lively. It looked like many of her schoolmates were chatting, with “President Shen” being the most frequently mentioned term.
Some private messages had also popped up. Su Mi opened a four-person group chat the original character often chatted in, where a few girls had already exchanged hundreds of messages, mostly about beauty, fashion, and gossip.
This was probably the original character’s closest circle of friends.
The latest message mentioned her: Susu, has your differentiation period ended? Someone said they saw your car parked at the school gate this afternoon.
Su Mi replied: Mm-hmm.
Friend A: Susu, why did you come to school? There are still a few days of vacation left, right?
Friend C: Did you see President Shen today? The new car is so pretty, it’s Susu’s favorite soft yellow. President Shen is so good to Susu~
Friend Y: By the way, how did your differentiation result turn out?
Su Mi: I’m a Beta.
The rhythm of the group chat paused.
Then, the three started comforting Su Mi with a flurry of words, including but not limited to praising Su Mi as Shen Han’s only beloved sister, questioning what difference it makes if Xu Nanqiao is an Omega, etc.
If it were the original character, she would be feeling both proud and pleased at this moment.
Subsequently, egged on by a few sisters, she had one of them contact a known hooligan, and the next day, they went to block the female lead in an alley, facilitating a hero-saving-the-beauty encounter for the male lead.
Finally, Friend A tentatively asked: Susu, what do you think of Xu Nanqiao now?
Su Mi: Hm? I have no particular opinion.
Just as Friend Y typed out something about how kind-hearted Susu is, Su Mi continued to send:
Su Mi: I just purely think of her as my sister-in-law ^^.
Author’s Note:
Shen Han: ?
T/N:
1 This is the start of the missing portion for the translation. Thank you to @juli for pointing it out. I was not home to fix check this bit before now so apologies for the lateness! I’ll make note in the following chapters to let readers come back to check it.
Baihe Fan 
Leave a comment