After answering Song Mian, Chu Tao lowered his head and bit into a piece of celery.

The celery juice spread through his mouth, overwhelming his taste buds. He frowned and quickly spit it out.

Chu Tao had always disliked the taste of celery but loved the peanuts in cold celery-peanut salad. While scooping up some peanuts earlier, he accidentally picked up a stalk of celery. Distracted by Song Mian’s words, he hadn’t noticed until it was too late.

Song Mian glanced at him and reprimanded, “Tao Tao, don’t be picky. Celery is very nutritious.”

Chu Tao mumbled an acknowledgment and sipped some juice to wash away the lingering taste.

Turning to Chu Jiangmin, Song Mian said, “How about we go for a massage after dinner?”

Chu Jiangmin chuckled. “Sounds good. No need to hold back today—just relax and enjoy.”

Then, Song Mian addressed Chu Xingning, “Since Tao Tao is going to see Jiang She, why don’t you join us for a massage? It’ll help with your shoulders and neck. You’ve been sitting in a chair so much that you’re bound to develop strain injuries.”

Chu Xingning quickly shook his head. “I’m still young. How could I have strain injuries? You two go enjoy your couple’s time. I might go play some games instead.”

He was feeling anxious. The little one was hard to appease and couldn’t stand being apart for even a short time. Even during this brief dinner, he’d already received over ten messages.

While thinking about this, his phone buzzed again, and he couldn’t resist checking.

**[Little One]: I can’t even eat without you, gege. Eating alone is so pitiful.**
**[Little One]: When will you be done? I have a birthday gift ready for you!**
**[Little One]: I wish I could sit next to you openly.**

The more the little one said things like this, the more Chu Xingning’s heart ached. He couldn’t even focus on eating.

Song Mian noticed and asked curiously, “Is the food not to your liking, Xingning? Eat a bit more.”

Worried about being found out, Chu Xingning quickly grabbed a piece of grilled salmon and chewed it absentmindedly. “I haven’t exercised much, so I’m not as hungry as you guys.”

Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge of the resort, Jiang She and Pei Jiang were lounging across from each other on a sofa. On the table between them sat two cups of Longjing tea and a few macarons.

The VIP lounge didn’t serve full meals—only snacks and desserts. It catered mainly to big-shot businesspeople visiting the resort to relax or conduct discreet discussions, offering high-end service and exceptional privacy.

Pei Jiang picked up a macaron, took a bite, and tasted it carefully before spitting it out in disgust.

“This tastes awful.”

Jiang She had been sitting with his eyes closed, resting, when he finally glanced at Pei Jiang.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to run into me? Why did you ask me to come?”

After parting ways with Chu Tao and watching him head to the buffet, Jiang She found himself with nothing to do. He picked a quiet spot to answer emails.

He could have asked the staff to send dinner to his room, but eating alone felt dull. He decided to wait and eat with Chu Tao instead.

While killing time, he received a message from Pei Jiang, who said he wanted to meet.

When Jiang She arrived at the lounge, Pei Jiang took a picture of their hands raising teacups together and then said nothing more, burying himself in his phone.

Finally, Pei Jiang put down his phone and smiled innocently. “After all, we’re relatives. Auntie says we’re both only children, so as cousins, we’re the closest thing to siblings. We should look out for each other.”

Jiang She smirked, his eyes sharp as he studied Pei Jiang. “Do you think I don’t know you’re using me?”

Jiang She was sharp and well-acquainted with Pei Jiang’s personality. While Pei Jiang could fool others, Jiang She was not so easily deceived.

Pei Jiang was silent for a moment but didn’t deny it. Instead, he openly said, “Even if I am, it’s not like you’re losing anything, right?”

Jiang She nodded thoughtfully, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. “That’s why I came.”

The room fell into silence again.

As Jiang She finished his tea and prepared to leave, Pei Jiang suddenly asked, “What were you feeling when you differentiated?”

Jiang She paused, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s there to feel? It happened, and that’s it.”

Pei Jiang shrugged, lowering his gaze with an uncharacteristic hint of somberness.

He muttered to himself, “It’s boring. Why do we always sense it before it happens?”

Most people had a vague awareness of their inclination even before differentiation, and the results usually aligned with their instincts.

Before differentiation, although free from the influence of pheromones, people still tended to be drawn to the opposite dynamic.

Pei Jiang had known for a long time that he would become an Alpha. That day wasn’t far off.

Jiang She couldn’t help but offer advice. “If you’re hitting puberty and feeling conflicted, go see a psychologist. I’m not an expert in that stuff. We’re not exactly close enough to bond over teenage angst.”

Pei Jiang noticed his slip and quickly reined in his emotions, laughing. “You’re so heartless, no brotherly affection at all. And to think Shen Lan treats you so well.”

At the mention of Shen Lan, Jiang She’s expression softened slightly, his previous impatience fading.

As his aunt, Shen Lan had always been gentler and kinder to him than Shen Qing.

Being part of the entertainment industry, Shen Lan had cultivated an extensive network of connections in the arts and sports world. She once got Jiang She a signed jersey and basketball from an NBA star and gifted him a top-tier gaming setup.

Jiang She liked Shen Lan. She was witty, charming, and far more flexible than the rigid and harsh Shen Qing.

When he was younger and less tactful, he used to proclaim both at home and outside that he wished Shen Lan were his mother instead of Shen Qing.

Ironically, after Pei Jiang was born, Jiang She overheard him say—
“Why couldn’t my mom be Auntie?”

In front of others, Pei Jiang always called Shen Lan by her name. It wasn’t because no one had taught him manners, but because Shen Lan forbade it.

If people discovered that Shen Lan had acted on impulse at eighteen, prioritizing romance over reason and ending up with a child from a male idol, her career-woman image would completely collapse.

Every time societal debates about gender equality arose, Shen Lan was often held up as an example. People admired her free-spirited nature, her refusal to conform to societal norms, and her single-minded focus on her career, which had led to her current success.

Many young Omegas viewed Shen Lan as a life ideal and role model. However, this also placed her on a daunting pedestal—she couldn’t afford any missteps or indulge in whims, with no way to retreat gracefully.

Pei Jiang was always referred to as her sister’s child, his biological father remained a mystery, and he couldn’t publicly claim Shen Lan as his mother.

Thinking about the tangled mess of their family situation, Jiang She felt a faint sympathy for Pei Jiang.

Even those who are detestable have pitiable sides, and Pei Jiang wasn’t truly detestable.

Noticing Jiang She’s expression shift slightly, Pei Jiang suddenly leaned over the table, bringing his face close to Jiang She’s with a mischievous grin.
“Now, does my dear brother want to bond over ‘stupid teenage angst’ with me?”

Jiang She replied indifferently, “I’ll pass, especially with you.”

Pei Jiang blinked and sat back, half-seriously, half-jokingly asking, “Brother, are you dating anyone?”

Jiang She raised an eyebrow, picking up his empty tea cup only to find it was drained. He set it back on the table.
“Is this a topic we should be discussing?”

“Why not?”

“I’m an adult, and you’re what, in middle school? What does dating have to do with you?”

Pei Jiang chuckled. “Oh, come on. Do you think this is still ten years ago? If I remember right, plenty of people have pursued you over the years.”

Jiang She responded flatly, “Don’t recall.”

Pei Jiang pressed on, his tone playful but curious. “Before you differentiated, did you ever think about what you’d do if the person you liked turned out to be an Alpha?”

Jiang She’s heart skipped a beat. He narrowed his eyes and studied Pei Jiang for a long moment.

Did Pei Jiang know something? Had someone spilled the secret about him and Chu Tao?

Still, Jiang She wasn’t one to hide things—no one could stop him, after all. Yet, if rumors about him reached Pei Jiang, it felt odd. While he didn’t care about public opinion, he didn’t want gossip to trouble Chu Tao, especially with the recent uproar at school over Su Jingtong’s public confession.

After a pause, Jiang She replied calmly, “If the person I liked were an Alpha, then I’d like an Alpha.”

Pei Jiang seemed momentarily stunned before muttering, “I thought you’d lie, say you’re an Omega, and only reveal the truth after they fell for you.”

Jiang She retorted without hesitation, “Lying is your specialty, not mine. I’m not interested.”

Pei Jiang’s smile stiffened slightly. “True, I’ve been the bad guy since I was little.”

Jiang She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “At least you’re self-aware.”

Pei Jiang’s eyes curved in a sweet, innocent smile, though his face had turned a bit pale. “What can I say? With a face as pure and naive as mine, it’d be a waste not to use it.”

Jiang She responded lazily, “You can do whatever you like, but no one’s a fool. Don’t expect anyone to fall for your tricks twice. I’m leaving.”

He was referring to being tricked into coming here to take photos. He’d humored Pei Jiang once but wouldn’t do so again.

However, as Jiang She’s words sank in, Pei Jiang bit his lip hard, his expression faintly strained.

He bit down with such force that his lips turned pale, and faint cracks began to bleed slightly, the taste of iron lingering in the air.