Sir, do you want the pheromones? - Chapter 5

Zhong Guan staggered out of the ecological pod, desperately suppressing his dry heaves, looking pale and unsteady on his feet.

 

Jin Ran reached out to support him, unable to look at him directly, and handed him a cup of energy adjustment water. “You look like you’ve been through a thousand tortures.”

 

Zhong Guan waved his hand, looking as if he had lost all hope. “I can’t… I can’t go on. Jin Ran, just bury me… just bury me… I… I’m going to vomit.”

 

“Hiss,” Jin Ran saw that he was about to throw up and lifted the cup, pushing him toward the trash can. Zhong Guan stumbled and felt dizzy, crying out, “Jin Ran, what are you doing?”

 

Jin Ran handed the cup to the recovering Zhong Guan, speaking seriously, “A truly strong Alpha needs to learn to stand on his own. How long can others support you? You must rely on yourself to stand up.” He added, “Hang in there.”

 

Song Sishen also emerged from the ecological pod and rolled his eyes at the dramatic speech. “Commander Pei said he would personally do the pheromone induction. Good luck to you.”

 

Jin Ran looked up at the ecological pod. As their gazes met, Pei Xingyu gave him a cold nod, showing no emotion.

 

Meng Ruqian, watching Jin Ran approach, asked softly, “Commander, don’t be too harsh on him. With his pheromone deficiency, he probably can’t handle your pheromones.”

 

Pei Xingyu nodded. “Mm.”

 

Jin Ran stood at the pod door and saluted Pei Xingyu. “Sir.”

 

“Come in,” Pei Xingyu said, stepping into the ecological pod. His military uniform jacket, slightly bent at the waist, revealed a small portion of a blue shirt, which quickly disappeared as he straightened up.

 

Jin Ran kept his eyes lowered. Meng Ruqian thought he seemed self-conscious and sighed inwardly, thinking “poor kid,” wondering why he had to lack pheromones.

 

In the entire Ziwei Yuan, even he had never smelled Pei Xingyu’s pheromones. With Pei Xingyu personally conducting the induction, Jin Ran was doomed.

 

The ecological pod was not large, but spacious enough to accommodate two people, a table, and two chairs.

 

Jin Ran entered and sat in the chair opposite Pei Xingyu. His hands were secured with silver mechanical clasps, and a small chip was attached to his forehead. Jin Ran shifted uncomfortably.

 

“Don’t struggle. The more you resist, the tighter these clasps will become,” Pei Xingyu said, putting on white gloves and holding a slender silver needle. He stood behind Jin Ran and explained calmly, “I will take a small sample of pheromones from the gland at the back of your neck for data collection.”

 

Alpha glands are not as prominent as Omega’s; they are flat and invisible under normal conditions and only swell up under specific stimulation.

 

Pei Xingyu’s fingers, encased in gloves, rubbed the gland area. “Here?”

 

Jin Ran replied with a slight “Mm.”

 

“Do you need a biting tool?”

 

Jin Ran scoffed, “Why would I need that?”

 

Pei Xingyu didn’t ask further. He gently pushed aside Jin Ran’s military uniform collar, pressed and rubbed the gland area with his fingers, and patiently encouraged it to swell.

 

Due to his pheromone deficiency, Jin Ran’s reaction was slow. Pei Xingyu’s wrist grew a bit tired, and he wondered if Jin Ran might never be stimulated by an Omega.

 

Jin Ran’s breathing grew heavier, and the dormant gland at the back of his neck was slowly stimulated by Pei Xingyu’s long fingers. It felt like something was awakening, stretching and growing inside him.

 

“Pei Xingyu.”

 

“……Mm.”

 

“Do you have someone you like?”

 

Pei Xingyu’s fingers paused, then he responded, “You’re twenty-two this year. I won’t take up too much of your time. After the three-year agreement ends, you’ll be free. I won’t continue to bother you.”

 

Jin Ran’s teeth ached at Pei Xingyu’s stubborn and unyielding demeanor. “Stop. I’ve heard that line so often I’m numb to it. I didn’t ask you that.”

 

Pei Xingyu said, “Aren’t you trying to hint that you have someone you like?”

 

Jin Ran hadn’t intended to hint at anything, but hearing Pei Xingyu say that made him see it as an opening, so he started lying freely. “If I had someone I liked, would you still not let me go? How selfish can you be? I have my beloved without a name or status. How can you be so shameless?”

 

Pei Xingyu fell silent for a moment, looking somewhat apologetic. “Sorry, when the three years are up, I will immediately divorce you. Before that…”

 

“Alright, Commander Pei, can you change your tone?” Jin Ran cut him off.

 

Pei Xingyu actually understood Jin Ran’s feelings. Being forced into marriage with someone else, especially with the tense relationship with Jin Shaoyuan, it was normal to reject the arranged partner. 

 

Having someone you like but not being able to acknowledge it publicly was more painful for the person you cared about than for yourself. He could understand that.

 

“Sorry, I won’t let your loved one suffer too long. If needed, I can explain things to them,” Pei Xingyu said.

 

The ecological pod fell silent after this apology. Jin Ran disliked this eerie quietness and, irritated, tapped on the chair with the mechanical clasps. “Hurry up. Why are you so slow?”

 

Jin Ran’s pheromone deficiency made it difficult to guide him. Besides the outbreak of his sensitive period, an additional trigger was needed.

 

Pei Xingyu gritted his teeth and released a bit of pheromone, increasing the pressure of his actions. The holographic screen beside him recorded every change in Jin Ran’s pheromones in detail.

 

Pei Xingyu lowered his head to check Jin Ran’s gland, and his close breath made Jin Ran’s expression darken.

 

The scent of dendrobium orchids was very close, at his neck. A cruel intent rose within Pei Xingyu, who couldn’t wait to grab the neatly dressed man behind him and destroy him.

 

The beast within him was awakened, craving blood—warm blood tinged with dendrobium orchids.

 

Jin Ran’s palms, covered in black gloves, were hot and sweaty, his heart pounding erratically. Each touch on the back of his neck felt like a weightless impact.

 

The pod was filled with the strong scent of white musk, which had gradually become very intense, tightening around his heart and breath. Jin Ran clenched his fists tightly, but the mechanical clasps locked his wrists, leaving him immobile.

 

His silver-gray eyes gradually turned red, filled with bloodshot veins. His throat emitted a hoarse, muffled growl. Pei Xingyu paused, immediately turning to look at the recorder, and the holographic screen was filled with chaotic data.

 

The pod’s atmosphere seemed to crystallize, flowing slowly and laboriously. Jin Ran’s head was covered in cold sweat, his lips pale, and veins bulging on his neck and forehead, as if he might burst and bleed at any moment.

 

Pei Xingyu’s fingers were numb. He realized his own breathing had also become irregular. The intense and oppressive white musk scent in the pod was mixed with traces of dendrobium orchids.

 

That was his pheromone!

 

Pei Xingyu’s eyes had a trace of red. He forced himself to calm down, suppressing the fluctuations in his pheromones, and quickened his movements. Soon, Jin Ran’s gland swelled, and Pei Xingyu decisively used the needle to prick it.

 

Jin Ran let out a muffled groan, his fingers tightening instantly. The mechanical clasps emitted a sharp buzzing sound, painfully resonating in the ears.

 

The data from the mechanical clasps was in Meng Ruqian’s hands. He was outside the pod, irritated by the buzzing sound, scrambling to check the terminal data that was jumping around like fireworks.

 

Jin Ran’s pheromones were out of control?

 

Meng Ruqian’s legs went weak. A person as calm as Commander Pei wouldn’t normally be so harsh, so why was he pushing Jin Ran to this extent? If this continued, Jin Ran would be ruined.

 

Did he really dislike Jin Ran so much?

 

The ecological capsule is generally opened from the inside. Meng Ruqian has the authority to forcibly open it from the outside, but he is unsure of the current situation inside and does not dare to act recklessly.

 

The new recruits who underwent the pheromone guidance have mostly recovered after drinking the energy adjustment water. Except for Zhong Guan, who still looks pale and lethargic like a half-dead dog.

 

Meng Ruqian anxiously watches the quiet ecological capsule. The data projected on the holographic screen is still chaotic, making him so restless he feels like scratching the capsule door.

 

“Why aren’t they out yet?”

 

The next second, with a “ding” sound, the capsule door opens. Pei Xingyu steps out with a not-so-good expression. But as usual, he has a cold demeanor, showing no significant change.

 

Jin Ran comes out as well, adjusting his gloves and avoiding looking at Pei Xingyu’s face, walking back with a steady gait.

 

Meng Ruqian frowns as he watches the two. He walks over to Pei Xingyu and asks, “Commander, what’s going on? Why did Jin Ran’s pheromones explode like that?”

 

Pei Xingyu does not answer and instead asks, “Have the results of the pheromone induction been organized?”

 

Meng Ruqian flips his hand and presses a virtual screen on his watch, which unfolds like a book. Pei Xingyu does not comment on the seemingly trivial matters Meng Ruqian is handling, but reaches out and flips through the pages.

 

Meng Ruqian notices and asks, “What’s wrong with your hand?”

 

Pei Xingyu clenches his hand and does not answer. He switches to the other hand to turn pages, from the first to the last. Meng Ruqian has already prepared a detailed report based on their pheromone status, including their unit assignments.

 

“Just follow this, and give the orders.”

 

Meng Ruqian asks, “What about Jin Ran? Should he be sent down?”

 

Jin Ran returns. Although his pheromones have calmed, there is still a faint trace of white musk lingering on him. His throat feels like a tidal wave of blood, the taste of Pei Xingyu’s blood still lingering.

 

He just bit Pei Xingyu.

 

Song Sishen glances at him with disgust and reluctantly hands him a cup of energy adjustment water. “Hey, this is for you.”

 

Jin Ran takes it and pats the smaller military cap on the boy’s head. “Oh, you still know to show respect to your older brother. Not in vain, I care about you.”

 

“Get lost.” Song Sishen glares at Jin Ran with deep loathing, steps a few paces away to adjust his hat, and stands straight like a flagpole.

 

Jin Ran finishes the energy adjustment water in one gulp, and grimaces at the salty and bitter taste in his mouth. “What kind of energy adjustment water is this? Is it attacking poison with poison?”

 

Zhong Guan, who had been lying like a dead dog, finally gets up. He cautiously looks at Pei Xingyu standing on the high platform, and with a sorrowful face, calls out to Jin Ran, “Am I finished? Even with your pheromones in such a bad state, you came out intact. Commander Pei will definitely send me back to Hall.”

 

Jin Ran, unable to speak due to the bitter taste, hears Zhong Guan say, “You must be going to a great place. I heard Commander Pei doesn’t care much about pheromone issues.”

 

Jin Ran throws the cup aside and does not respond.

 

Pei Xingyu slightly nods and says something to Meng Ruqian that the recruits cannot hear. Meng Ruqian nods, thinks for a moment, and then adjusts the microphone in the virtual image, clearing his throat, “Classmates!”

 

The recruits quickly stand straight, listening attentively.

 

Meng Ruqian says, “I will now announce the results of your pheromone induction and the units you will be assigned to. Luo Xinyang, A-grade pheromone, assigned to the Tian Shu Special Operations Team.”

 

“An Yuan Kai, A-grade pheromone, assigned to the Tian Shu Special Operations Team.”

 

“Gu Jinggen, B-grade pheromone, assigned to the Destroyer Fleet.”

 

“Que Zimo, A+-grade pheromone, assigned to the External Patrol Fleet.”

 

“Qiu Shi, B-grade pheromone, assigned to the Interstellar Space Ziwei Monitoring Station Control Center.”

 

“Liang Xiu, A+-grade pheromone…”

 

Meng Ruqian reads each name aloud. Zhong Guan nervously tugs at Jin Ran’s sleeve, “What about Jin Ran? I’m so nervous. Am I finished?”

 

Jin Ran, annoyed by his constant whining, pulls his hand away. “If you keep whining, Commander Pei will send you back to Hall.”

 

Zhong Guan looks despondent.

 

“Zhong Guan, C-grade pheromone…” When Meng Ruqian announces Zhong Guan’s name, Zhong Guan stands rigidly as if struck by lightning, holding his breath, sensing that Meng Jianchang is announcing his fate with a slower pace.

 

“Please, please, ancestors, don’t let me go back to Hall.”

 

“…Assigned to the Tian Shu Special Operations Team.”

 

Zhong Guan’s heart drops heavily, almost in tears. “Jin Ran, Jin Ran, I stayed! Did you hear? Meng Jianchang said I get to stay in the Tian Shu Special Operations Team!”

 

“…” Jin Ran, his ears pained by Zhong Guan’s noise, moves aside, feeling exasperated.

 

“Song Sishen, undifferentiated secondary sex characteristics, still young, temporarily assigned to the Tian Shu Special Operations Team.”

 

Song Sishen also breathes a sigh of relief. Jin Ran reaches out and rubs the boy’s head, praising him.

 

He is only fourteen this year, a true prodigy, the first from Hall to enter military school without differentiation and graduate before differentiation.

 

Song Sishen, perhaps excited, does not avoid Jin Ran’s head rub for the first time.

 

“Jin Ran, S…!!” Meng Ruqian, staring at the data on the crystal chip, almost bites his tongue. S… S-grade pheromone?

 

It shouldn’t be.

 

Meng Ruqian’s eyes widen in shock, and he turns to look at Pei Xingyu with a cold expression. “Commander, this…?”