ISMW Chapter 84

Of course, money wasn’t the most important thing.

 

Yun Xunlan mainly wanted to defend his innocence: “Baby, I sell pheromone-scented products, not actual pheromones.”

 

He believed there was a big difference between the two. Many people on the market were selling products made with his pheromone-scented ingredients.

 

Yu Chen was also aware of this. Besides, lychee rose wasn’t particularly special or rare as a pheromone scent, so he initially didn’t suspect anything. He just thought Yun Xunlan was too popular, which was why so many companies and merchants were rushing to launch lychee rose-scented products to ride on Yun Xunlan’s popularity.

 

The leader among them was Alicia’s Sweet Shop.

 

Yu Chen’s suspicions also began with Alicia’s Sweet Shop—their eighteen-star-coin ice cream had advertising copy that was too suggestive, yet no matter how he reported it, nothing happened. Even real-name reporting didn’t work. Even when he changed his request from removal to modifying inappropriate advertising copy, he received no response.

 

This was very unreasonable.

 

After all, if Alicia’s Sweet Shop wanted to avoid complaints from the Third Prince’s followers and royal reputation lawsuits, they could easily find an eighteen-year-old person with lychee rose pheromone scent to be their spokesperson.

 

Even without a spokesperson, they could subtly hint that the ice cream was inspired by him, or came from a lychee rose plantation with eighteen years of history, with each ice cream containing fresh juice extracted from eighteen lychee rose petals… There were endless excuses to choose from.

 

Yet Alicia’s Sweet Shop was too lazy to find any excuse. They just brazenly rode on his popularity, ignoring all reports and continuing to sell. They were so arrogant they almost directly named Yun Xunlan.

 

The only explanation for their audacity was that their behind-the-scenes boss had powerful backing.

 

And what backing could be powerful enough to rival or surpass the Third Prince?

 

It had to be the pheromone owner himself, along with his Imperial Sister, Imperial Brother, and Father Emperor above him.

 

However, judging from Emperor Yun Qihe’s personality, he definitely had no interest in such matters. Second Prince Mu Xingyu’s relationship with Yun Xunlan was mediocre, and Yun Xunlan wouldn’t likely allow Mu Xingyu to use his “reputation” to make money. That left only Yun Xunguang and Yun Xunlan.

 

The probability of either of them doing such a thing was about equal, so Yu Chen had never been certain. He couldn’t ask directly, so he just let it slide.

 

—Until today when Jian Wenxi let it slip.

 

How acute were the five senses of a 3S-level alpha like Yu Chen? He heard the omega’s “phero-” beginning crystal clear, and the silver-haired young man’s subsequent coughs to interrupt Jian Wenxi were like trying to cover up by making more noise!

 

In front of others, Yu Chen could cooperate with Yun Xunlan and pretend nothing had happened.

 

But privately, Yu Chen definitely needed to “settle accounts” with Yun Xunlan.

 

“Last time I took leave and walked through three streets, I could smell your pheromone scent in every corner and crevice of those three streets. Of every ten passersby I encountered, at least seven carried your pheromones.” Yu Chen was almost amused by his own situation, gritting his teeth: “The remaining three all fashionably dyed their hair your signature silver. Only my head is green.”

 

Yun Xunlan: “…”

 

Yun Xunlan: “Baby, your head isn’t green. You have black hair.”

 

“How is it not green?” Yu Chen raised his eyebrows. “My head has grown so much grass it’s turned black from being too green. You say it’s not green?”

 

Yun Xunlan seriously went along with his words: “The grass appears green from afar but seems absent up close. Not green.”

 

Yu Chen: “…”

 

It was good poetry, but Yu Chen obviously didn’t want to hear it. Seeing his deeds exposed and his lover’s eyes dark and face pale, Yun Xunlan quickly continued coaxing to maintain their beautiful, sweet love: “Baby, I’ve only given my pheromones to you.”

 

As he said this, his tongue tip was still pinched between Yu Chen’s fingers. Because of the struggle to speak, his tongue tip slid and rubbed between the two fingers, actually coating Yu Chen’s hand with wet pheromones. Though the warm lamplight in the room was dim, this layer of moisture gleamed brightly, drawing attention.

 

Yu Chen still gazed into Yun Xunlan’s eyes, his tone showing no significant change: “Is that so?”

 

Yun Xunlan knew he was always hard to coax and didn’t expect a single sentence to make Yu Chen’s mood brighten. Moreover, Yu Chen had entered his susceptible period again.

 

Alphas in susceptible periods were most suspicious, with destructive desires, possessiveness, and aggressive urges all stuck at their peak.

 

Yun Xunlan couldn’t soothe Yu Chen with pheromones like an omega could, so he could only use words to try his best to comfort his doubly petty lover during his susceptible period: “I’ve only been in a relationship with you, so of course I’ve only given my pheromones to you.”

 

Yu Chen had previously thought that even if Yun Xunlan didn’t have a rich romantic history, he probably had other dating partners. After all, during their first time, when he said he had no experience, Yun Xunlan had said “It’s okay, I’ll teach you”—could someone without experience confidently say such a thing?

 

Moreover, Yu Chen had never seen Yun Xunlan show emotions like shyness or discomfort.

 

The young man was always calm and composed, only when caught in passionate trembling and invaded by another alpha, his whole body wrapped and soaked in pheromones that didn’t belong to him like being submerged in seawater, would that porcelain-white face show colors other than the red mole at the corner of his eye due to desire.

 

So hearing the silver-haired alpha admit he was the only one, Yu Chen released his fingers, but didn’t immediately let Yun Xunlan off. His fingertips slid along the young man’s chin past his Adam’s apple, then slowly caressed to where the nape glands were located, leaving a trail of cool moisture that raised tiny bumps on the young man’s skin.

 

His movements still carried colors of suppression and control, but his voice, no longer so low, had already betrayed his pleased mood: “So… I’m your first love?”

 

“Yes.” Yun Xunlan was equally generous in directly stating his specialness. “Only you.”

 

Hearing this, Yu Chen was finally willing to let the matter of his wife secretly selling pheromone-scented products behind his back slide.

 

He also didn’t tell Yun Xunlan to stop this money-making venture that was “growing grass on his head,” because Yu Chen prided himself on being considerate and generous. He understood that in research and development, experimental funding was the most troublesome issue for teams.

 

The Seventh Military Experimental Base where Yun Xunlan worked was the only military experimental base that didn’t receive national funding. All the base’s funds came from Yun Xunlan and Jian Wenxi’s pockets. Yun Xunlan selling his pheromone-scented products was ultimately for the country, for the greater good. Yu Chen would never be petty and jealous over such a small matter.

 

However, Yu Chen still wanted Yun Xunlan to reflect on other matters, hoping the young man would cherish his life in reality as much as he did on the virtual battlefield.

 

Therefore, after confirming Yun Xunlan had awakened and could move freely after two more days of rest, Yu Chen went to the medical examination room—during the three days Yun Xunlan was unconscious, Yun Xunguang had Dike give him leave, allowing him to stay in Yun Xunlan’s hospital room without joining other guards for training, as long as he went for a full physical examination with the medical team doctors after Yun Xunlan woke up.

 

She needed to confirm that Yu Chen was definitely a 3S-level alpha who could, in the worst-case scenario… assist Yun Xunlan with secondary differentiation.

 

Pei Xingting was one of the medical team doctors. During the examination, he took the opportunity to help Yu Chen clear all remaining Level III enhancement serum from his body. This way, Yu Chen would no longer be affected by the serum’s side effects of irritability and anger, and could normally release the pheromone pressure that a 3S-level alpha should have.

 

But to those unaware, Yu Chen had simply broken through from 2S to 3S. So when Yu Chen returned to the guards’ quarters, he received sincere yet sarcastic congratulations from his colleagues.

 

Sincere because everyone was happy for him.

 

Sarcastic because his relationship with Yun Xunlan could no longer be hidden.

 

Knowing the prince was dating him was one thing; being able to accept it was another. Even Yu Chen was self-aware enough to realize few people could accept this.

 

Fu Yanxi and Gui Yan definitely couldn’t accept it, and they spoke to Yu Chen in the most peculiar tones.

 

“Yu Chen, congratulations.” Fu Yanxi’s back molars were nearly crushed as he spoke his congratulations. “Hehe, good thing you’re wearing a bite guard, or seeing your fickle face would make me nauseous.”

 

Yu Chen was in his susceptible period, so he had to wear a bite guard in public. Hearing Fu Yanxi’s comment, he immediately sneered: “What? I wear a bite guard and you don’t recognize your father?”

 

—If Pei Xingting heard this, he would definitely sigh that Yu Chen truly had no class, and it had nothing to do with the Level III enhancement serum’s side effects of making alphas manic and aggressive.

 

However, the guards were used to Yu Chen’s habit of cursing as soon as he opened his mouth.

 

Look, look!

 

What a classless alpha—why would the Third Prince fall for him?!

 

Had His Highness never seen Yu Chen’s ugly face when cursing?

 

Gui Yan and Fu Yanxi thought for three days and nights but couldn’t figure out the reason.

 

So today, seeing Yu Chen, Fu Yanxi asked: “Yu Chen, you once said you could resist the Third Prince’s charm!”

 

“Oh, but you also said I was just barely holding on.” Yu Chen countered. “Now I can’t hold on anymore and stopped trying. Is there a problem?”

 

Fu Yanxi was speechless, clutching his chest in defeat.

 

Gui Yan stepped up next, pulling out evidence and pointing to the “Alpha You Most Want to Marry in the Galaxy” ranking on his light brain screen: “You also said you didn’t want to marry the Third Prince!”

 

Yu Chen continued his devastating attacks: “Yes, I really didn’t want to then. It’s all your fault for forcing me to vote. Now that vote came true, and I have no choice.”

 

Gui Yan nearly vomited blood, his finger pointing at Yu Chen trembling violently: “Yu Chen, how… how do you have the face to say such things?”

 

“He’s shameless!” Fu Yanxi raged. “Do you even remember what he looks like?”

 

Gui Yan replied: “I can’t remember.”

 

“Whether you see my face doesn’t matter. As long as His Highness can see it, that’s enough. I only have one point—” Yu Chen stared at Gui Yan’s silver hair that hadn’t been dyed back and said, “Change your hair color, or I’ll help you shave it all off.”

 

Gui Yan refused: “You’re being too controlling. I want to keep this color.”

 

“Fine.” Yu Chen nodded and walked toward him expressionlessly.

 

Gui Yan moved behind Fu Yanxi: “Brother Xi, didn’t you say last night that Yu Chen’s coveting of the Third Prince was an irreconcilable hatred? Now’s your time for revenge.”

 

Fu Yanxi: “…”

 

**

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)