Chapter 7: The Wound

Su Mi was stunned. “Go up?”

Secretary Zhuang nodded and said, “President Shen is upstairs. She heard you were here and specifically asked if you’d like to go see her.”

Although it felt a bit strange, it was a good opportunity to tell Shen Han about today’s events.

Su Mi naturally agreed and followed Secretary Zhuang to the elevator from the side entrance, going up to the top floor of the hospital.

This was a private hospital, and the top floor seemed to serve only VIP clients, so there were hardly any people around.

Secretary Zhuang brought Su Mi to a lounge and said that Shen Han was still undergoing a check-up and would come to see her once it was finished.

Unlike the lower floors of the hospital, which were filled with the scent of fresheners to disperse pheromones, the top floor lounge was completely scentless.

Su Mi touched her earring.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t smelled anyone’s pheromones since arriving in this world two days ago…

What do pheromones even smell like?

Su Mi hadn’t read many novels in her previous life and had only a basic understanding of ABO, knowing there were scents like cedar, milk, and cigarettes.

But this world was different from any novel she had read. The measures to suppress pheromones were highly advanced, and everyone was very cautious about protecting their pheromone privacy.

Forget it. She had been too preoccupied with the plot and the female lead to even think about what her own pheromones smelled like.

With some free time, Su Mi opened her optical computer to study more about ABO in this world.

…

When she opened her eyes again, Su Mi found herself lying awkwardly on the single sofa in the lounge.

Had she fallen asleep while reading the information?

She winced slightly and then sneezed.

The lounge temperature was comfortable, not too cold. Su Mi rubbed her nose, thinking she might have caught a chill from sleeping without a blanket.

This body really was out of shape, feeling exhausted after just a bit of activity with the golf club.

She reminded herself to make some ginger tea when she got home.

Su Mi jotted this down in her to-do list on her optical computer.

Including the time she spent sleeping, it had been about half an hour since she entered the lounge when Secretary Zhuang finally came in, looking noticeably apologetic.

“I’m sorry, Miss Su,” Secretary Zhuang said. “President Shen just finished her check-up, but something urgent came up at headquarters, and she had to leave for the company.”

Ah, she was stood up.

But Shen Han was the head of a large corporation, so it was understandable that something urgent might come up.

Su Mi wasn’t upset. After saying goodbye to Secretary Zhuang, she drank two cups of water at the nurse’s station on the top floor before going downstairs to wait for Xu Nanqiao.

When Xu Nanqiao came out of the injection room, she looked completely well again, as vibrant as ever.

Before leaving, she needed to pick up some medication from the pharmacy. When it came time to pay, Su Mi remembered Xu Nanqiao’s part-time job and instinctively raised her optical computer.

Xu Nanqiao stopped her and shrugged.

With a gentle but firm tone, Xu Nanqiao said, “I might not be able to afford a ten-thousand yuan golf club, but I can handle this medical bill.”

Su Mi felt a bit embarrassed but then saw Xu Nanqiao chuckle.

After paying for her medication, Xu Nanqiao pulled Su Mi aside, close and affectionate.

“Our school has medical subsidies, and suppressants for Omegas are free. So, I only had to pay a few yuan for the medication, which is quite cheap.”

Su Mi rubbed her head, remembering she had read something about that before falling asleep.

Not sure how to explain, she waited until they were back in the car to say, “Earlier… you know, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Xu Nanqiao replied, “I know you meant well, and I appreciate it. But I should be the one thanking you.”

Su Mi tilted her head in confusion.

Xu Nanqiao smiled shyly, “I mean for saving me today. Those thugs were no joke, and I didn’t expect you to handle them so well. They even tried to trigger my heat. If it weren’t for you, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

Su Mi, suddenly praised, felt awkward under Xu Nanqiao’s grateful gaze and coughed lightly.

“It was nothing. We’re friends, of course, I’d help you. I’ll let Shen Han know about those scumbags later. She’ll help you get revenge!”

“President Shen?” Xu Nanqiao frowned, seeming surprised that Su Mi mentioned her. “Isn’t it a bit much to ask her?”

Su Mi shook her head vigorously, “No, it’s fine. Look, we’re good friends now, and Shen Han is my sister, so she’s… um, connected to you too. She’ll definitely be willing to help. Besides, she asks you to read to her every week, so it’s only fair.”

Xu Nanqiao laughed, “For someone with such poor language grades, you sure know how to talk.”

Su Mi: “… You called me your lifesaver a moment ago and now you’re mocking me.”

She huffed and looked out the window.

Suddenly, Xu Nanqiao exclaimed from the passenger seat.

“What’s that under your ear?”

Su Mi turned around and instinctively touched her ear. “Where?”

Xu Nanqiao leaned over, turned Su Mi’s head, and touched a spot under her ear on her neck. “Maybe you got scratched during the fight… there’s a bit of blood, but it looks like just a surface scratch.”

Su Mi: ?

No one got that close to my neck during the fight, did they?

Could it have been some flying debris?

Xu Nanqiao asked, “Do you have a self-treatment device in your car?”

After a pause, Xu Nanqiao added, “On your globally top-ranked brand Amissa limited edition luxury sports car.”

Su Mi blushed.

“Look at the control panel yourself—I said that to intimidate those people, you, you too!”

Xu Nanqiao laughed out loud, completely out of character, and asked Su Mi to unlock the vehicle’s permissions. She quickly found the self-treatment device she mentioned.

The warm healing light swept across the back of Su Mi’s neck.

After just two seconds, the warmth disappeared.

Su Mi turned back. “Is it done?”

Xu Nanqiao nodded gently, “Yes, the wound was small. It might have healed by the time you got home without the device.”

Su Mi: …

Xu Nanqiao smiled innocently at her.

This Xu Nanqiao, now so lively, was different from the somewhat bland protagonist in the original plot, much more vivid.

Su Mi wondered if this meant Xu Nanqiao already considered her a friend.

Seeing Su Mi lost in thought, Xu Nanqiao reassured her, “It’s probably safer to use the device than risk an infection from those people.”

Su Mi began to doubt, “Are you sure you weren’t just tricking me about the wound?”

“Really not,” Xu Nanqiao said, pulling out her optical computer. “Good thing I took a photo to show you. Look.”

The floating screen displayed a small wound near Su Mi’s neck, slightly scabbed.

“It’s close to your gland. Even though you’re a Beta and your glands aren’t as developed as an Alpha or Omega’s, it’s still a sensitive area.” Xu Nanqiao advised, “You must take care.”

Su Mi agreed and, after thinking for a moment, saved the photo of her wound. She then sneakily took a picture of Xu Nanqiao holding the treatment device while she was putting it away.

After dropping Xu Nanqiao off, Su Mi started editing a post for her social media.

She posted the two photos with the caption: Sister +1 [heart] [hug] [fist].

It was the peak time for Loran Academy’s students to be active online, and Su Mi’s post immediately drew a lot of responses.

Comments were full of question marks.

: What does this mean???

: Isn’t that Xu Nanqiao?

: Does Shen Han know you’re calling someone else sister [sinister]?

: Who is this sister you’re referring to?

Su Mi scrolled through the comments until she noticed something unusual.

A lone question mark from… Shen Han?

Why is the villain even looking at my social media!

Su Mi hesitated for a moment before calling Shen Han.

Shen Han picked up quickly.

Su Mi greeted loudly, “Good evening, sister!”

Shen Han: “What’s up?”

Su Mi, playing her role as the loyal follower, reported the situation: “Sister, about that post! Today, Xu Nanqiao and I were ambushed by some Alpha thugs after school. They said a lot of disgusting things and tried to trigger Xu Nanqiao’s heat. Luckily, I called the school security team in time and saved her, then took her to the hospital. While waiting for her treatment, I ran into Secretary Zhuang.”

Hearing no response from Shen Han, Su Mi continued, full of righteous indignation: “I was going to tell you this when I came upstairs. The mastermind behind this hired thugs to attack Xu Nanqiao and trigger her pheromones. This is clearly a challenge to your authority and a serious violation of school and social rules! We need to find the mastermind and teach them a lesson. What do you think?”

Shen Han asked, “Was it just pheromone stimulation? I saw the picture; you’re injured too?”

“…” Su Mi said, “Probably just a small scratch I didn’t notice. Xu Nanqiao insisted on treating me, but I said it wasn’t necessary. I was very moved by her kindness, so I made that post to praise her noble qualities. I didn’t expect you to see it.”

Shen Han seemed to chuckle quietly.

The sound was so faint that Su Mi wondered if she had imagined it.

Could this usually cold and gloomy villain described in the original plot really be amused by something like this?

Su Mi pictured the black-haired, blue-eyed villainess in a long dress, trying to imagine what she would look like laughing.

She couldn’t picture it.

But she remembered—Shen Han laughed at Xu Nanqiao’s cute stories.

Shen Han said, “I understand. I’ll have someone investigate. I’ll let you know the results.”

She seemed ready to hang up.

Was that it?

Su Mi hurriedly said, “Wait… sister, aren’t you curious about Xu Nanqiao’s condition?”

She was nearly triggered into her heat period; shouldn’t you show some concern?

Shen Han was silent for a moment before saying, “I’m familiar with this hospital’s standards. Tests and suppressants for heat periods are quick unless she had an S-class heat outbreak. Otherwise, she should be fine.”

Su Mi finally remembered that the hospital they visited was owned by the Shen family.

Su Mi: “… Yes, Xu Nanqiao specifically praised this hospital’s management. The suppressants are free, and she can get a refund for the medication at school. She really appreciates the hospital’s management.”

Praising the Shen family’s hospital should count as praising Shen Han, right?

Shen Han sighed.

“Su Mi, if you don’t know how to make small talk, you don’t have to.”

She said it lightly.

Su Mi: …

Shen Han seemed to misunderstand Su Mi’s intentions and continued, “I’ve transferred some medical expenses to your account, and I’ll have a VIP gold card for the hospital sent to your home tomorrow. You…”

She paused and added meaningfully, “Take care of your injury.”

Shen Han ended the call.

Su Mi: Wait, I, you…

Her optical computer pinged with a transfer notification. Shen Han had sent her 30,000 yuan, with the note: Medical expenses.

… This was hard to explain.

The villain and the female lead are meant to be together, right? Why are both of them mocking me about my injury?

Annoying.

Su Mi pouted, but her mood lifted when she saw the balance in her account.

So much money!

Su Mi spent a long-time marveling at the string of zeros in her account balance, feeling instantly refreshed. Looking at the transaction records from Shen Han made her feel even better.

Anyone seeing these transfer records would think she was the villain’s beloved.

But she was just a lucky sidekick riding the coattails of the female lead, making sure to act as a catalyst for the relationship between the villain and the female lead. This way, Shen Han would keep sending her money!

With renewed motivation, Su Mi pondered over the medical expenses.

She poked the system. “System.”

System: “Yes, host^^.”

Su Mi: “How do you think I should convey the villain’s intentions to the female lead to gain her favor?”

Just transferring money wouldn’t work.

In the original plot, it was hard enough for Shen Han to get Xu Nanqiao to accept compensation for reading to her.

The gold card should be delivered, but…

System: “Host, as an AI, 622 cannot simulate human emotions. You might consider what kind of comfort you would prefer if you were in Xu Nanqiao’s position.”

Su Mi: …

For me, the money would be enough, really.

Author’s Note:
Possible future scenario:
Shen Han: Honey, today…
Su Mi: If you don’t know how to make small talk, you don’t have to. ^^