Chapter 094: Pleasing

This is how a normal omega should behave. Lin Miao even wondered if the fierce omega who could knock him down with a punch was just a figment of his imagination.

If Lin Miao hadn’t learned some moves before, he would definitely have a black eye by now. What really stood out was how skilled Cheng Qingzhu seemed in fighting, and he knew that as an omega, his physical strength was a disadvantage. So, he used leverage, taking advantage of Lin Miao’s unstable center of gravity to throw a punch, which might have even given him a hidden debuff like a concussion.

No wonder Cheng Qingzhu in the original story could go back and forth with the Alpha who had marked him.

After apologizing, Cheng Qingzhu, recalling his actions, stepped forward worriedly to check: "Did I hurt you?"

"No worries, I’m fine." Lin Miao only relaxed after confirming that Cheng Qingzhu wasn’t targeting him.

He always believed his natural demeanor wasn’t the type to easily offend others.

"Got more to do? I’ll walk with you. We can chat on the way, so I don’t hold you up."

Cheng Qingzhu was a bit taken aback by Lin Miao’s considerate offer, and his already slightly flushed face turned even redder.

"My destination is a bit far. Will it take up too much of your time, senior?"

"No problem. I’m all done with my tasks. Let’s head out."

Lin Miao wasn’t just being humble. He had indeed been relatively free lately. After completing the experiments and submitting a flawless mid-term report, he was now just waiting for the second evaluation and funding. Rushing wouldn’t do any good.

Moreover, due to his mid-term involvement, the direction of the experiment needed some adjustments. They were now just holding daily meetings and making plans, temporarily not needing to enter the lab or spend every day in the library writing proposals.

Stepping out for some fresh air could even ignite some fresh ideas.

As for Yan Jiming, that guy seemed particularly gleeful that Lin Miao couldn’t get Cheng Qingzhu to go out. Every time Lin Miao caught sight of Yan Jiming’s smug grin, his fists would tighten.

He really needed to get that dog out of the house pronto. Having him around was driving him nuts!

Lin Miao accompanied Cheng Qingzhu to take the bus. These days, buses are air-conditioned, making the ride in this weather bearable.

The bus was just really slow, swaying gently, allowing passengers to relax and enjoy the city views.

After a bit of chatting, Lin Miao discovered that Cheng Qingzhu’s jumpiness stemmed from being harassed by an Alpha.

"Actually, senior, if you need anything, just shoot me a message. I’ll make time to meet you." Cheng Qingzhu reverted to his shy self, his voice softening as well.

Compared to the havoc-wreaking dog at home, Cheng Qingzhu was just adorable.

Sigh, such a good kid, how did he end up with that second dog of theirs? What a pity.

"I did message you, but you must have missed it," Lin Miao said.

"Ah." Cheng Qingzhu then remembered: "I changed my WeChat ID before, so I probably... missed adding you."

Judging by his tone, Cheng Qingzhu had probably added him with the new account, but with Lin Miao’s overflowing WeChat contacts and a mountain of verification messages... Either the message got buried and overlooked, or he had forgotten about knowing someone named Cheng Qingzhu and didn’t approve the request.

Cheng Qingzhu, however, gave him some face, saying he had missed adding him.

The more he looked at him, the more well-behaved this kid seemed.

"I get a lot of messages every day, so it’s possible I missed it," Lin Miao generously took out his phone. "Let’s add each other again. I’ll also save your number, so even if you change your ID, we can still contact each other."

"Okay." Cheng Qingzhu nodded obediently, scanned Lin Miao’s QR code, and sent a friend request, carefully noting his name and sending his phone number as well.

Lin Miao dialed the number in front of him: "This is my number. If you have anything, you can call me directly."

Out of respect, the omega did not wear a mask when speaking to him.

That face wasn't so much handsome as it was... sweet? Beneath the fluffy, soft hair, the eyebrows were fine, the almond-shaped eyes round and wide, like a cat's, with dense, long eyelashes, and delicate, small features. The skin was as tender as a peach, and just looking at that face seemed to evoke a sweet scent, making one want to take a bite.

Even Lin Miao, a beta, couldn't help but feel a little moved. This kid was truly beautiful, no wonder he usually wore a mask when going out.

With such a face, a good personality, scholarship-earning abilities, and a part-time job to support his family, showing great filial piety, no wonder all the Alphas were captivated by him.

Cheng Qingzhu didn't mind people knowing he worked part-time to support himself and his family. For him, it was a matter of pride, much better than those moochers who, even as adults, shamelessly asked their families for living expenses.

"Senior, have a seat here for a bit, I'll go change my clothes," Cheng Qingzhu led Lin Miao to the shop where he worked. It was a dessert shop specializing in authentic French handmade pastries, with both the presentation and price being quite high. The pay was pretty good too, and according to Cheng Qingzhu, the shop owner was really nice, even covering their travel expenses.

For someone like Cheng Qingzhu who took the bus, the owner didn't hesitate to include the taxi fare equivalent in his salary.

Originally, Cheng Qingzhu also took on tutoring jobs, but since starting here, he had stopped tutoring.

The students from their school charged quite a bit for home tutoring, and a diligent weekend could earn one or two thousand yuan. But since it involved going to others' homes, and Lin Miao being an omega, he had run into some dangerous situations, ultimately forcing him to quit this job.

Luckily, this dessert shop was also short-staffed on weekends. Though it didn't pay as much as tutoring, it was stable and safe, and with employee perks and various bonuses, the difference wasn't too significant.

Cheng Qingzhu found Lin Miao a seat by the window. Outside the window was the shop owner's private garden, filled with endless summer flowers, climbing roses, and many other varieties Lin Miao couldn't name.

Who would've guessed the shop owner was quite the gardener.

Lin Miao was really interested in those flowers. If he could, he would've loved to go outside for a closer look.

"The flowers are quite well taken care of, aren't they?" A soft, gentle voice spoke up. Lin Miao looked in the direction of the voice. Even though Cheng Qingzhu hadn't described the shop owner, Lin Miao had a gut feeling.

This guy seemed like the type who could do such things.

The shop owner, like Lin Miao, was a beta in his early thirties, looking pretty young and not overweight, even though he ran a dessert shop. His black hair was especially thick.

Rumor had it that half the pastry chefs here were French, so Lin Miao expected to see a high-nosed foreigner, but the shop owner looked... quite classically Eastern.

Sometimes Lin Miao couldn't help but marvel at the world of novels, where everyone you meet is a looker.

"Very beautiful—not only are the flowers blooming beautifully, but the layout is also very artistic, like a piece of art."

Hearing Lin Miao's praise, the man's smile widened: "With such sweet words, it'd be a shame not to personally prepare a dessert for you."

Lin Miao glanced towards the back, wondering why Cheng Qingzhu hadn't come out yet. He was really struggling with the French romance and enthusiasm.

"No need to trouble yourself, it's really too kind. Clearly, it's you who has taken such good care of the flowers, and I'm the one reaping the benefits."

The man smiled at him and, like a gentleman, extended his hand to Lin Miao: "It's my honor to prepare a meal for a beauty. Would you like to come and take a look?"

Lin Miao really wasn't good at dealing with this kind of person. He looked around and finally, reluctantly, placed his hand on the man's.

Surprisingly, the hand was very soft, without a single callus. Was this really the hand of a chef?

The shop owner led Lin Miao to the display counter. Most of the desserts here were made to order, and customers could watch their desserts being made right in front of the glass counter.

Although it often required waiting in line for several hours, for the same price and quality, except for takeout, it was rare for someone to order.

After asking about Lin Miao's taste preferences, the shop owner also changed into his uniform and entered the work area. Starting with cutting chocolate, he slowly prepared a special dessert for Lin Miao, one that wasn't even on the menu.

For the first time, Lin Miao realized that making desserts could be as visually pleasing as an art film, especially watching the syrup and chocolate slowly transform into lifelike, blooming flowers. It was simply incredible!

"Although it's not as poetic as Monet's garden, I think the taste of my garden should still be quite good."

The shop owner, catering to Lin Miao's preferences, made the sugar sculptures small, with each flower crafted from different materials, adorning a small cake base. Just looking at this tiny garden, Lin Miao couldn't bring himself to touch it, afraid he'd mess it up.

"It's so beautiful, I can't bear to eat it," Lin Miao said sincerely. He wasn't the type to take photos of his food first, but he still took several pictures of this little cake made just for him and sent them to Yan Jiming.

"It's here to make you happy, don't hesitate. Next time you come, I'll make other delicious treats for you," the man said, picking up a small fork, cutting a tiny piece of the cake base, and then, along with the chocolate sunflower on top, brought it to Lin Miao's mouth.

Lin Miao felt a bit awkward; he wasn't used to being fed by someone he wasn't familiar with, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He softly thanked him and opened his mouth to take in the piece of cake.

The cake base was soft and fluffy, with the perfect balance of moisture and airiness, and a light almond scent that covered up the eggy smell. The slowly melting chocolate slices had a slight bitterness that balanced the sweetness of the cake.

That bite made Lin Miao feel really happy. It was hard to describe such deliciousness in words; he even felt that the decorative chocolate was too little and wished he could take some back to enjoy slowly.

Unfortunately, there was only one chocolate flower inside.

The other flowers were a bit sweeter, but overall, each bite was a new surprise, and Lin Miao polished off the dessert without feeling too sweet.

Especially when paired with lemon black tea, Lin Miao felt he could have another serving.

The dessert shop owner, Qu Qingyi, got into a pastry school in France. His family didn't support him at first, but later, with the money he made from a shop abroad, he opened a small dessert shop and grew it to what it is today.

Spending a couple hundred yuan on a plate of handmade dessert that you might finish in a few bites sounds like something people would complain about online.

But Qu Qingyi's shop keeps getting more popular, with people lining up every day.

After all, the desserts he sells are really worth it. Not only are the ingredients expensive, but the hygiene standards are also impeccable. Customers can even watch the desserts being made by blond, blue-eyed foreigners right in front of them, which makes many people willing to pay the price.

Honestly, not everyone likes French desserts. They're too sweet and don't keep well. Even if left for a few hours, the taste isn't as good.

Such a precious thing, the more people criticize it, the more people come out of curiosity. It's said that initially, there was only Qu Qingyi as the pastry chef in the shop, but now even with five or six people working in shifts, they can't keep up.

Lin Miao wasn't in a rush to leave and chatted with Qu Qingyi for a bit. When the shift break came, he asked Cheng Qingzhu to have dinner out.

Cheng Qingzhu insisted on treating, after all, Lin Miao had helped him so much before, and he had never expressed his gratitude.

Lin Miao couldn't refuse, but he took care of Cheng Qingzhu's dignity by not choosing a very expensive restaurant, to avoid making Cheng Qingzhu feel burdened.

After they ordered, before the dishes were even served, Yan Jiming called.

Lin Miao, having experienced two ancient worlds, was not used to electronic devices like mobile phones. He often forgot to turn the sound back on after silencing it in the lab, and it was only through Yan Jiming's persistent reminders that he remembered to switch it.

His ringtone had been changed by Yan Jiming to a very niche song, which was said to have been released on the day Yan Jiming was born. Yan Jiming insisted that this song was custom-made for him, with lyrics that could be applied to himself. Since Lin Miao wasn't particular, he let Yan Jiming change it.

As the familiar melody rang out, both people at the table looked at the phone, and Lin Miao realized that Cheng Qingzhu's ringtone was also this song.

Both were surprised for a moment, then smiled at each other.

Lin Miao: This cliché is just right.

He pressed the answer button, and Yan Jiming's voice came through, saying he was coming to pick him up for dinner, but the lab people said he had left in the afternoon.

"Yeah, I came out to meet a junior," Lin Miao said without hesitation, "I mentioned it to you before."

Across the table, Cheng Qingzhu subtly observed Lin Miao's expression, which wasn't hard for Lin Miao, who had studied psychology, to notice.

There seemed to be some surprise in the other's expression, but also a hint of hidden joy. Lin Miao was on the phone and didn't have the mind to analyze it in detail, just responded to Yan Jiming with a few words.

If he were the one treating today, he could have called Yan Jiming over and naturally introduced the two.

But since Cheng Qingzhu insisted on treating, he couldn't call Yan Jiming over and add to the burden.

If it were any other day, Yan Jiming would have been more reasonable and hung up the phone without a fuss.

But today, Yan Jiming was acting out of jealousy, throwing a tantrum and insisting on coming over. Lin Miao felt a bit helpless, chiding gently by name, which only made Yan Jiming more upset.

Indeed, Yan Jiming probably still had a good impression of Cheng Qingzhu. In the original story, these two were a natural pair, not only highly compatible in pheromones but also very similar in values and habits, as if they were two halves of the same whole...

A fleeting thought crossed Lin Miao's mind, but when he tried to grasp it, the idea seemed too outlandish to fully articulate.

"Sorry, it's my childhood friend. I stood him up, and he's throwing a tantrum," Lin Miao said, saving Yan Jiming's dignity to avoid ruining his image in Cheng Qingzhu's eyes.

If he lost even the slightest bit of goodwill, Cheng Qingzhu wasn't the type to care about an Alpha's well-being.

"Then, senior, why don't you invite him over? I'd feel bad if I caused you any trouble," Cheng Qingzhu said, as gracious and considerate as always. In contrast, Yan Jiming's capricious nature stood out even more.

"It's fine, he's just being dramatic. He won't really get angry," Lin Miao continued to salvage Yan Jiming's image.

Cheng Qingzhu smiled at him, "I really don't mind, senior. Besides my part-time job, I have other side hustles. I can afford to treat you properly."

With Cheng Qingzhu insisting to this extent, Lin Miao couldn't keep refusing.

But he remembered from the original story that Cheng Qingzhu had to juggle multiple jobs to cover his family's expenses, especially since his mother suffered from a severe hormonal disorder.

Cheng Qingzhu's father was a responsible man, but his limited education meant that no matter how hard he worked, it wasn't enough to cover his wife's medical bills. Cheng Qingzhu had to step in and help.

Over the years, Cheng Qingzhu's father never gave up on his wife's treatment, nor did he abandon his family for a new one. He just felt guilty for placing such a heavy burden on his son from such a young age.

Cheng Qingzhu's parents were deeply in love, which is why, despite his dislike for the Alphas who had bullied him since childhood, Cheng Qingzhu chose to offer assistance when Yan Jiming needed help.

They were both warm-hearted people, and aside from the melodramatic elements, Lin Miao quite liked this story.

He sent Yan Jiming the location and didn't bother waiting. As soon as the food arrived, he started eating. By the time the dishes were almost gone, Yan Jiming finally showed up.

He was reeking of cologne, had changed his clothes, styled his hair, and even drove a sports car. He looked like he was ready for a photoshoot.

Lin Miao: "..."

Is this guy showing off? Which zoo left its gate open and let this peacock strut out?

It wasn't entirely unreasonable. In Lin Miao's eyes, Yan Jiming had been looking forward to meeting Cheng Qingzhu for a long time, so this over-the-top display...

No, he had to hold back. He couldn't laugh. He couldn't humiliate the Alpha.

"Why so late? Order whatever you want," Lin Miao waved for the waiter, ordered more dishes, cleared some space, and then introduced the two.

"Cheng Qingzhu, my junior, I've mentioned him before," Lin Miao introduced, then turned to Cheng Qingzhu, "Yan Jiming, my childhood friend. We grew up side by side since childhood. He's an Alpha, not from our school..."

Lin Miao briefly explained their school and majors. The rest, if Cheng Qingzhu was interested, he could easily look up.

Yan Jiming was not only famous at their school but also well-known across other campuses.

Of course, aside from his achievements and reputation, his notoriously messy personal life was also a hot topic.

Yan Jiming cycled through omegas faster than most people changed clothes, but in a world that idolized Alphas, people only saw him as charming, able to attract so many omegas.

Hearing Lin Miao only say a few words and not praise him, Yan Jiming, like a sulking puppy, got upset but didn't show it in front of others.

Most of the time, Yan Jiming is quite gentlemanly, more reserved and polite than the vast majority of Alphas, but in private, he's a different story...

Well, anyway, he won't have to worry about it in the future.

After Lin Miao finished the introductions, he shifted to other topics, not rushing to play matchmaker for the two.

Cheng Qingzhu is very careful with his glands, so his pheromones rarely leak out. Yan Jiming can't sense Cheng Qingzhu's pheromones and would only consider him an ordinary omega.

Pheromone compatibility, apart from personal feelings after direct contact, can only be determined through hospital tests. Therefore, in public, neither of them knows that their pheromone compatibility could reach a terrifyingly high level.

Lin Miao isn't worried about the two not getting along; after all, Yan Jiming seems quite interested, and Cheng Qingzhu likely doesn't mind Yan Jiming's personality.

Lin Miao tallied up his points, thinking it was a shame he couldn't grind them like he used to.

But after the two have a conflict, he can still grind some more through the main plotline.

Distracted, he didn't notice Yan Jiming, sitting beside him, speak up.

"I'll be blunt—hope you don't mind. But we're all adults, so it's better to get these things out in the open early and not waste time." Yan Jiming spoke in a business-like tone, not like he was chatting, but more like discussing some very important matter.

Lin Miao had just snapped back to attention when he heard Yan Jiming continue.

"I'm a super S-class Alpha, and my pheromone compatibility with most omegas is very low. My family is pressuring me to interact more with omegas and, if I find a suitable match, to get married. If you're up for it, we can give it a shot."

Lin Miao: What the...?

The more he listened, the more something felt wrong, and in the end, it took a great effort to keep his eyes from popping out.

Yan Jiming's words basically meant: let's try it out first and see if it works before committing. Pheromones in this world are the most private and personal thing—not something you flaunt, even in front of family. What he said wasn't just bold—it was practically harassment!

Now Lin Miao got why Yan Jiming could date so many people so quickly. With lines like that, even if someone liked him, they'd call him a creep and bail.

But Yan Jiming doing this to other characters is one thing; the person sitting across from him is the main protagonist!

Before Lin Miao could figure out how to salvage the situation, he saw Cheng Qingzhu smile politely at Yan Jiming: "I'm flattered, but I already have someone I like. Senior, you should ask other omegas."

Lin Miao: ...

Lin Miao: ?!?!?!?!

It's over, it's all over.