After Rebirth, Married to a Deadly Enemy - Chapter 20

In the beginning, Bai Xiangxing wanted to personally take Xiangrong to school. However, the situation in the XinShi was not optimistic. He had already been delayed for three days to pick up Xiangrong in District 64. He couldn’t afford any more delays. The issue of updating the pharmaceutical factory’s equipment had to be addressed immediately. “Currently, how much money do we have available in our accounts?” Bai Xiangxing summoned Wan Tong as soon as he arrived at the company. Wan Tong had been diligently working on this matter for the past few days. He initially thought it would take considerable effort to investigate the financial situation of XinShi, given that both he and Bai Xiangxing were newcomers. Office politics typically involved resistance to newcomers, especially since Bai Xiangxing had significantly disrupted XinShi’s business model. However, what surprised Wan Tong was that although the veteran employees at XinShi were not enthusiastic about Bai Xiangxing, they had been quite cooperative. “I’ve already liquidated assets we no longer need, and Changsheng Bank has also helped us secure a loan. Currently, we can gather a total of 12,560,000 credits,” Wan Tong reported. “Just a little over 12 million, but updating the equipment will require at least 21.3 million,” Bai Xiangxing said, his brow furrowing. “21,300,000 is the lowest price I could negotiate,” Wan Tong replied. “How much time do we have to raise the rest of the money?” Bai Xiangxing inquired. “At most ten days; otherwise, we won’t be able to complete Changsheng’s order on time,” Wan Tong explained. “Alright, I understand. Go and bring the manager of the production department here,” Bai Xiangxing said, rubbing his temples. “Understood.” Shortly after Wan Tong left, the manager of the production department, Zhou Qirong, walked in. Bai Xiangxing didn’t waste any time and handed over the pharmaceutical formula. He had prepared this formula a long time ago; it’s just that he couldn’t reveal it earlier since Xiang Rong had not been found. The document not only contained the formula but also the practical insights he had gained from the pharmaceutical process in his previous life. As soon as Zhou Qirong received the pharmaceutical formula, his face turned red with excitement. “Mr. Bai, is this pharmaceutical formula real?” This was a level of pharmaceutical formula that even the best suppression agents on the market couldn’t achieve. How could such a pharmaceutical formula easily appear in their nearly bankrupt company? If they were to sell this, the money earned would be enough to buy XinShi now. Bai Xiangxing said, “You’ll know if it’s real when you test it.” “Yes, yes, I’ll go test it right now,” Zhou Qirong said excitedly as he turned to leave for the laboratory. “Wait.” Bai Xiangxing stopped him. “Manager Zhou, you should be aware of the value of this formula. You must ensure confidentiality.” “Mr. Bai, rest assured, except for me, no one else will know the entire formula,” Zhou Qirong replied. Bai Xiangxing nodded in satisfaction. “After testing the pharmaceuticals, check the inventory and see if we have enough raw materials.” “We have enough. If not, we can also collect from Asteroid 108 in the Scorpio Galaxy,” Zhou Qirong said. “Asteroid 108? Is it New Shi’s property too?” Bai Xiangxing didn’t recall seeing it in New Shi’s records. “It’s Young Master Shi Ning’s exclusive asteroid,” Zhou Qirong replied. Bai Xiangxing remembered that Shi Zhen had told him that each of the Shi brothers had been given an asteroid by their grandfather, one for each of their weddings. So, this Asteroid 108 should belong to Shi Ning. Shi Ning’s asteroid could be mortgaged to the bank, and they could get one million Starcoins from it, right? The seemingly difficult problem was quickly solved, and Bai Xiangxing became invigorated. However, he still needed to discuss this matter with Shi Zhen. Shi Ning was still a minor, and this asteroid should be in the hands of Shi Zhen’s parents. In the evening, Bai Xiangxing knocked on the door of the study. “I have something to discuss with you,” Bai Xiangxing got straight to the point. “Come in,” coincidentally, he also had something to discuss with Bai Xiangxing. Shi Zhen poured a glass of water for Bai Xiangxing. “What’s the matter?” “It’s related to New Shi.” “Are there difficulties?” Shi Zhen guessed. Bai Xiangxing had taken over New Shi, and this was the first time he had come to ask for his help, so there must be some problem that required his assistance. “It’s a bit troublesome. We need money,” Bai Xiangxing said straightforwardly. Shi Zhen furrowed his brows. “How much?” “Ten million!” Bai Xiangxing held up one finger. Shi Zhen: … Before marrying Bai Xiangxing, Shi Zhen was aware that New Shi was on the verge of bankruptcy, but he had never felt short of money himself. However, just a short time after their marriage, his daily salary of fifty thousand was spent, to the point that he was so broke he had to borrow money from subordinates for meals. Now it was even more exaggerated; he was suddenly short of ten million. “New Shi has now entered the mainstream. With this ten million, we can update the equipment. By updating the equipment, we can complete the contract with Changsheng on time. Then New Shi will turn losses into profits, and it may even become a supplier of pharmaceuticals to the military again. We’re so close to returning to the peak years. It’s right in front of us,” Bai Xiangxing put on a sales pitch, passionately making his case. Shi Zhen smirked. He could tell that Bai Xiangxing’s tone was exaggerated, but he also knew this wasn’t baseless. Bai Xiangxing knew about getting the pharmaceutical formula from Xiangrong. Initially, he had doubts about the authenticity of the formula, but the information he had found in the afternoon completely dispelled those doubts. “Do you want me to come up with ten million?” Shi Zhen asked. “Where would you get ten million? Our accounts are shared. If you had the money, you would have transferred it over by now,” Bai Xiangxing replied. “So, what do you want me to do?” Shi Zhen asked. Finally getting to the point, Bai Xiangxing grinned, “Doesn’t Xiao Ning have an asteroid…” Before Bai Xiangxing could finish his sentence, Shi Zhen interrupted, “Xiao Ning’s asteroid can’t be touched.” “Why? Are you afraid I’ll make a loss? I can promise you…” “It’s not about that. Xiao Ning’s asteroid is currently in a trusteeship status. Only when Xiao Ning reaches adulthood can he gain control of it. You can’t touch it,” Shi Zhen explained. Bai Xiangxing was taken aback. It was in trusteeship status, and they had to wait until Xiao Ning reached adulthood. Xiao Ningwas currently only fifteen years old, and waiting for another three years was too long. His high hopes were suddenly extinguished like a bucket of cold water being poured over him. Bai Xiangxing slumped onto the couch, feeling drained of energy. “It’s over, it’s over… Do you have anything else that can be mortgaged? Is this house worth ten million?” Bai Xiangxing sighed in desperation. In fact, even if he couldn’t gather this ten million, Bai Xiangxing could sell the pharmaceutical formula like in his previous life. The proceeds would temporarily alleviate New Shi’s difficulties. However, he was unwilling. If he could produce the drugs himself and overcome the current challenges, New Shi, with the support of the pharmaceuticals and the Shi family’s influence in the military, could rise swiftly to new heights. Clearly, the shortcut was right in front of him, and he not only didn’t take it but also pointed it out to others. Bai Xiangxing couldn’t imagine himself doing such a saintly act. Shi Zhen had never seen Bai Xiangxing like this before. Even after suddenly becoming an Omega, Bai Xiangxing had remained spirited. “How much time do you need?” Shi Zhen suddenly asked. Bai Xiangxing was astonished. “Ten days? Can you get the money in ten days?” Shi Zhen furrowed his brows but nodded in response. “Then I’ll wait for your message.” Excited, Bai Xiangxing stood up from his chair and approached Shi Zhen, tightly holding his hand. Shi Zhen unconsciously lowered his head, looking at their intertwined hands. Bai Xiangxing’s skin, already fair, appeared even more delicate against his rough palm. The overly radiant contrast made him uncomfortable. He tried to avoid eye contact by looking down but accidentally bumped into Bai Xiangxing’s flushed, peach-like face due to his excitement. Bai Xiangxing’s suggestive tone led Shi Zhen’s mind to involuntary flashes of the dirty jokes he had heard in the military camp. “These virgins, let me educate you. When an Omega is in heat, their skin is so tender it feels like it can squeeze out water, and their little mouths are as soft as jelly, biting them is incredibly sweet. During this time, their body unconsciously secretes more pheromones, and then it’s hehehe…” Suddenly, his whole being felt like it was on fire, and he couldn’t sit still. What was even scarier was that he sensed his own pheromones were stirring… “You can leave.” Shi Zhen pulled his hand back abruptly and took three or four steps backward, avoiding looking at Bai Xiangxing’s face. He was afraid that if he looked again, he would involuntarily taste that legendary jelly. “What’s wrong?” Bai Xiangxing couldn’t understand. Everything had been fine just a moment ago, so why was Shi Zhen acting this way now? “I have something else to attend to. Please leave,” Shi Zhen said. Bai Xiangxing didn’t think he had done anything wrong. Why was Shi Zhen treating him like this? He got angry too and left the room. As he reached the door, he thought of the Ten million he needed, so he turned back to remind Shi Zhen, “Ten days, Ten million, don’t forget.” “I won’t.” Bai Xiangxing left the room, confused by the sudden change in Shi Zhen’s behavior. He decided that he wouldn’t interact with Shi Zhen again until he had the Ten million. After Bai Xiangxing left, Shi Zhen slumped into the chair and released the pent-up pheromones that had been building up inside him. In just a moment, the room was filled with the scent of a volcanic eruption. Shi Zhen’s pheromones were rare magma pheromones; once released, they not only gave people a tremendous sense of oppression but also made them feel the scorching heat of lava. During extreme moments, they could even burn other people’s pheromones, making them a highly destructive type of pheromone. This was why he always gave off an intimidating aura. Ever since it was discovered that his pheromones had a strong destructive potential, Shi Zhen’s father had trained him from a young age on how to control his pheromones. As a result, he had excellent self-control. Even under the influence of Omega hormones, he could manage his own pheromones properly. However, just now, he had… Shi Zhen covered his face with his hands, hardly believing what he had done just a moment ago. Then, his nose caught a scent of the sea, like the fragrance of ocean breeze after a sunny day. This is… Bai Xiangxing’s pheromones? Shi Zhen immediately stood up, but as he reached the door, he abruptly halted his steps. In his current state, wouldn’t it be even more dangerous to approach? He sighed and sent a message to Shi Ning. = Back in his room, Bai Xiangxing was still upset about Shi Zhen’s sudden change in behavior. He drank several glasses of water to calm down. Nevertheless, he felt better because the issue of the Ten million had been resolved. Just as he was about to head to the bathroom, someone knocked on his room door. “Xingxing ge.” Shi Ning’s soft voice came from behind the door. “The door is unlocked,” Bai Xiangxing replied. With a click, the door was pushed open. However, instead of entering immediately, Shi Ning stretched his neck and sniffed the air inside the room. “What are you doing?” Bai Xiangxing walked over with a smile. “The smell of the ocean. So, Xingxing ge, your pheromones have this scent.” Shi Ning smiled and raised his head. “I love going to the beach.” Bai Xiangxing was initially puzzled but then realized, “My pheromones…” “Here.” Shi Ning took out a transparent vial from behind him and handed it to Bai Xiangxing. It was a pheromone suppressant. “Thank you, but I don’t need it.” Pheromone suppressants were used by Omegas to prevent the leakage of pheromones, especially when they were outside. However, this didn’t mean that Omegas enjoyed taking the injections. Although they had become accustomed to administering the medication themselves after differentiation, the sensation of the needle piercing their glands was unpleasant. Bai Xiangxing was no exception. He only bothered to use suppressants when he went out. When he was at home, unless he was in heat, he hardly ever injected himself. Most importantly, due to his improper physical modification in the previous life, his glands developed incompletely, and he rarely experienced heat cycles. His pheromones were consistently weak. While others might have needed injections every two to three days, he only required them once or twice a month. Upon hearing Bai Xiangxing’s refusal, Shi Ning blinked in confusion and then inexplicably became excited. “Do you want to me find my brother downstairs?” “???” Why would you look for……?! “You little troublemaker, what’s going on in that head of yours?” Bai Xiangxing gave Shi Ning a light pat on the head, not using much force. Looking at the innocent Shi Ning rubbing his head, Bai Xiangxing realized something. He wasn’t living alone right now, and the dispersion of pheromones could affect others. No wonder that guy Shi Zhen had a sudden change in attitude earlier. “Did your brother ask you to deliver this?” Bai Xiangxing asked to confirm. “Yeah, my brother sent me a message.” Speaking of this, Shi Ning couldn’t help but sigh. Such a good opportunity, and his brother actually asked him to deliver pheromone suppressants to his own sister-in-law. Shouldn’t he have taken the chance to make a move? Well, he truly deserved to be single. “Alright, I know how to use it. You can leave.” Bai Xiangxing, thinking back to the recent situation, suddenly felt uneasy all over and pushed Shi Ning out of the room, closing the door. If he remembered correctly, Shi Zhen’s sudden change in attitude occurred when he shook hands with him. Handshakes were innocent enough, but if pheromones had just dispersed at that moment, wouldn’t it be like he was seducing him? The more Bai Xiangxing thought about it, the redder his face became. He rushed into the bathroom and absentmindedly took a shower. When he looked at the mirror and saw his unusually beautiful Omega appearance, he couldn’t help but think again. Even with his looks, he could still get pushed away by Shi Zhen. This guy Shi Zhen truly lived up to his reputation as the legendary ninja turtle. In his past life, he had been single for decades and could still maintain his mental stability. His self-control was extraordinary. This was one of the reasons why Bai Xiangxing had chosen to marry Shi Zhen, as rumors had it that Shi Zhen didn’t like Omegas. However, misunderstandings needed to be resolved. What if Shi Zhen thought he was trying to seduce him? So far, he was quite satisfied with Shi Zhen as a partner in this collaboration. After some contemplation, Bai Xiangxing wrapped himself in a bathrobe and hurried downstairs, knocking on the study door once again. Shi Zhen opened the door and saw the Omega in a bathrobe, with wet short hair that seemed even more charming than before. He felt a stiffness in his body, and the restlessness he had barely suppressed surged back. “I’ve come to explain what happened earlier,” Bai Xiangxing quickly explained. “I just turned into an Omega, and my glands are unstable in the early stages. Sometimes, I unconsciously release some pheromones. So, what happened earlier wasn’t intentional.” “You came down just to say that?” Shi Zhen clenched his teeth. “Yes,” Bai Xiangxing nodded. “You could have just sent a message. No need to torment me again,” Shi Zhen said, annoyed. “Explaining it in person shows more sincerity. I’m done now; I’ll leave.” Shi Zhen watched Bai Xiangxing’s figure as he walked upstairs in a hurry, then angrily closed the door. This house was becoming unbearable. The next morning, Shi Zhen didn’t appear at the breakfast table. Bai Xiangxing, yawning, accepted breakfast served by the cute Shi Ning and casually asked, “Where’s your brother?” “I don’t know, he was gone when I woke up this morning,” Shi Ning shook his head. “He left last night,” said Xiang Rong, who was sitting at the table eating breakfast. Bai Xiangxing thought for a moment and estimated that Shi Zhen must be raising money, although he didn’t know where he could find ten million. However, with only ten days, time was tight. Putting Shi Zhen aside for now, Bai Xiangxing shifted his gaze to Xiang Rong and asked, “I forgot to ask you yesterday, how does it feel at school?” Xiang Rong replied haughtily, “It’s okay.” “Xiang Rong did great; he scored full marks on the entrance exam and was placed in Class 1,” Shi Ning excitedly added. “Not bad,” Bai Xiangxing, who knew Xiang Rong’s learning abilities better than anyone else, nodded lightly and said, “From now on, go to school with Xiao Ning and protect him for me. If he loses a single hair, I’ll deal with you when I get back.” Shi Ning hadn’t spoken yet, but Xiang Rong was already angry, “Who said I’m coming back here? When are you going to move my household registration out?” Bai Xiangxing responded calmly, “If you don’t protect Xiao Ning well, I won’t move your household registration.” His eyes turned red with anger. — After the combat training, Shi Zhen gathered the members of the Flame Team. “I’ve taken on a level S exploration mission from Star 101, and I need a few helpers. Who’s willing to come with me?” Shi Zhen asked. “What level of mission is it?” the others asked. “S-level, searching for energy essences,” Shi Zhen replied. The team’s faces all changed upon hearing this. Deputy Officer Liang Chen couldn’t help but say, “Boss, last time we went to find energy essences, Chang Feng nearly lost his life in there.” Lin Changfeng also spoke up, “That’s right, boss. The wildlife on that planet is extremely dangerous, with mental strength levels all above A. We haven’t fully understood their attack attributes. Last time, coming back alive was already a stroke of luck for me.” Star 101 was a planet recently discovered by the Alliance, and it harbored powerful creatures and energy sources. The Alliance had not yet been able to thoroughly explore this planet. However, the energy essences found there were urgently needed by the Alliance. “I need ten million star coins,” Shi Zhen didn’t hide the reason and stated it directly. “Is it for Bai Xiangxing?” Liang Chen guessed. Shi Zhen nodded, “Bai Xiangxing wants to steer the New Shi back on the right track, and he needs ten million in liquid assets.” The training ground fell silent once more, and this time, the silence lingered for quite a while. After a moment, a red-faced man spoke up, “Boss, I heard that on Bai Xiangxing’s first day in charge, he canceled the medical benefits for the New Shi.” Shi Zhen looked at the man and replied, “That’s correct.” The atmosphere became even more tense, and this time, the silence lasted especially long. An S-level mission was the highest risk task in the military, but of course, high risk came with high rewards. Each energy essence could earn them five million star coins as a reward from the Alliance. That’s why Shi Zhen decided to take on this mission, as he only needed two energy essences to reach his goal of ten million star coins. However, the risk of getting injured was a significant concern. The team had been to Star 101 once before, and Lin Changfeng had nearly lost his life there. Several other soldiers had also been injured, and the medical expenses for several people totaled nearly five million. Not to mention, Lin Changfeng had spent three whole months in the hospital and almost had to retire due to his injuries. Furthermore, accepting a mission and executing a mission sent by the Alliance and the military were two entirely different concepts. If they went to Star 101 as part of an Alliance and military expedition, injuries sustained would be covered by the Alliance’s medical expenses. However, if soldiers wanted to earn their own bonuses, getting injured during this mission meant the Alliance wouldn’t cover the medical expenses. In the worst-case scenario, if they were unlucky enough to be discharged, they might not even receive retirement benefits. If it were the former New Shi, they would have unhesitatingly participated in this mission because they couldn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t need New Shi’s medical benefits after retiring with a body full of injuries. So when it came to helping the New Shi, they would go to great lengths. But the current New Shi no longer had medical benefits. “I’ll go,” after a long silence, a sudden voice rang out—it was Liang Chen. “My life was saved by the captain, and I said it before, wherever the captain needs me, I’ll go.” “I’m going too,” Lin Qing and Guan Longfei both spoke up simultaneously. The two exchanged glances, and Lin Qing continued, “Although I’ve never enjoyed New Shi’s medical benefits, if it weren’t for the New Shi back then, my father wouldn’t be alive today.” “Count me in,” Lin Changfeng added. Liang Chen furrowed his brows upon hearing this. “Changfeng, you just got out of the hospital. You shouldn’t go this time.” Lin Changfeng shrugged it off. “While you guys can choose not to go, I have to. I’m the only one who’s been to Star 101 before. With me around, executing the mission will be much easier. Besides, I want to find that giant spider that injured me last time and settle the score.” “Captain, take me with you.” “I’m in too.” “Count me as well.” They were all brothers who had faced life and death together. How could they let one of their own face danger alone? They might be unwilling to risk their lives for the unfamiliar Bai Xiangxing, but for Shi Zhen, for their former New Shi, they were willing to lay down their lives if necessary. *New Shi is Xin Shi*