Chapter Text
In this world, human evolution no longer stopped at the primary genders of man and woman. A secondary classification emerged—Alpha, Beta, and Omega. The change reshaped human society.
Nowhere was the transformation more strictly managed than in Mainland China, where this story begins. The government implemented rigid regulations to control pheromones, the invisible biological force that could easily overwhelm human rationality and reduce even the most disciplined individual to pure instinct.
Recognizing the danger hidden within these reactions, the Chinese government established two specialized divisions to maintain order.
The Scent Regulation Bureau monitors civilian pheromone violations and maintains stability in public spaces.
The Military Stability Division, on the other hand, handles far more dangerous cases. Their duty is to evaluate and restrain combat-grade individuals—especially Alphas whose dominance levels exceed normal limits—and to protect Omegas, who are often the most vulnerable to pheromone-related violence.
The two departments rarely cooperate.
Their responsibilities lie on opposite ends of the system: one focused on public order, the other on containment and enforcement. Joint investigations only occur when a case falls outside the usual Alpha–Omega dynamics.
Especially when the anomaly involves something that should not normally happen in the new order of the world.
Recently, those cases have been increasing.
Alpha–Alpha reactions.
What should have been biologically incompatible has begun to surface with alarming frequency. When two dominant pheromones collide, the result is rarely peaceful. Instead, the reaction often triggers intense aggression and territorial conflict—situations that can spiral out of control within seconds.
And once it begins, stopping it is never simple.
Wu Sou Wei, the head of the Scent Regulation Bureau, was the first to notice the pattern.
Reports of sudden aggression between Alphas had surged across several districts. Encounters that should have ended in nothing more than brief dominance displays were escalating into full-scale confrontations.
Naturally, the aftermath always landed on the desk of the Military Stability Division, who were responsible for detaining and evaluating unstable Alphas.
The division was capable of handling dangerous Alphas. Every member there was an elite Alpha themselves.
But the problem was quantity.
The cases were piling up faster than they could process them.
So Wu Sou Wei submitted a proposal for a joint investigation.
When the document reached the Military Stability Division, Vice Commander Guo Chengyu nearly danced on the spot.
Finally. A solution.
For the past month, the division had been running nonstop containment operations. His workload had doubled, and the boyfriend waiting for him at home had already begun sulking over his constant late nights.
This proposal felt like a miracle.
Guo Chengyu practically shoved the file onto the desk of the only person who could approve it.
“Boss,” he said, barely hiding his hope, “we should seriously consider this.”
Across the desk, Chi Cheng, the head of the Military Stability Division, glanced down at the report.
The room remained silent for a moment.
Not even Guo Chengyu dared rush him.
When Chi Cheng finally lifted his eyes, the faint pressure of an Alpha’s pheromones seemed to settle in the air.
Deep in thought, Chi Cheng had already been considering whether he should contact the Scent Regulation Bureau about the recent surge of Alpha aggression cases.
It was fortunate they had reached out to his division first.
At least he wouldn’t have to waste time drafting the proposal himself.
“Prepare a meeting with them tomorrow,” he said at last.
Approval granted.
Across the office, Guo Chengyu nearly burst into dance.
Internally, of course.
He still had some dignity as an Alpha. There was no way he was going to celebrate like an idiot in the middle of headquarters.
“Thank you, Boss,” he said loudly, unable to hide the relief in his voice.
Chi Cheng shot him a sharp look.
“Can you stop calling me Boss?” he asked lazily. “We’re a government division, not some underground gang.”
The word lingered in the air.
Guo Chengyu only shrugged.
This man—the so-called Head of the Military Stability Division—had been his childhood friend. They had known each other since they were barely toddlers.
And now he had the nerve to question the title?
Guo Chengyu glanced at him again.
Chi Cheng was leaning back in his expensive leather chair, a cigarette resting between his fingers as he slowly exhaled smoke. His military uniform was worn with careless confidence, the collar slightly open, his posture relaxed in a way that somehow made him look even more dangerous.
Even among Alphas, his pheromones were superior.
Guo Chengyu had witnessed it more than once. Chi Cheng’s mere presence was enough to force an ordinary adult Alpha to their knees.
Everyone in the country knew Chi Cheng was competent.
That much was common knowledge.
But honestly—
The longer you looked at him, the more he resembled a mafia boss.
Cold eyes. Unbothered attitude. Sitting there like he owned the entire building.
If that wasn’t Boss energy, then what was?
Guo Chengyu cleared his throat.
“Old habit,” he said innocently. “Since childhood.”
Chi Cheng narrowed his eyes.
Meanwhile, Guo Chengyu privately decided that his logic was perfectly reasonable.
Wu Sou Wei sat in his office at the Scent Regulation Bureau, reviewing case files on the large monitor in front of him.
Rows of reports filled the screen—incident logs, pheromone readings, behavioral assessments.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” he said without looking up.
The door opened, and a woman in her early thirties stepped inside. She carried herself with effortless elegance, her white lab coat neatly pressed. A name tag rested neatly against the fabric:
Yue Yue.
A gentle smile rested on her lips, one that rarely seemed to fade.
Among the researchers in the bureau, Yue Yue was somewhat unusual.
She was an Omega.
More specifically, a Dominant Omega—a rare classification that existed outside the standard categories recognized by society. Officially, the system only acknowledged three secondary genders: Alpha, Beta, and Omega.
But reality was rarely that simple.
Even within those classifications, superiority and variation still existed.
Just as some Alphas possessed overwhelming dominance, certain Omegas carried pheromone signatures strong enough to rival them.
The Scent Regulation Bureau employed several Omegas as researchers, but Yue Yue stood out—not only because of her pheromone profile, but also because she served as Wu Sou Wei’s secretary.
“The Military Stability Division has accepted the proposal,” she reported smoothly. “They’ve requested a meeting tomorrow.”
Wu Sou Wei paused.
Only then did he lift his eyes from the screen.
“Who will attend the meeting?” he asked calmly.
Yue Yue checked the tablet in her hands.
“Their division head,” she replied. “Chi Cheng. He will attend alone.”
Wu Sou Wei nodded slightly.
“Then I will represent our side as well.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you, Yue Yue. You may return to your work.”
He gave her a small, polite smile before turning his attention back to the files on his screen.
“Yes, sir.”
She gave a slight bow before leaving the office.
The moment the door closed behind her—
Her elegant composure melted instantly.
Yue Yue nearly collapsed against the wall beside the door, clutching her chest.
'Ahh—!'
'So handsome!!!'
Her mind screamed internally.
How could someone look that calm and attractive while working?
If Yue Yue was classified as a Dominant Omega, then the head of the Scent Regulation Bureau was something else entirely—
A Dominant Alpha.
Even in his mid-thirties, Wu Sou Wei carried a youthful appearance, his presence steady and refined. But beneath that calm exterior was an Alpha aura powerful enough to melt even a Dominant Omega—individuals who normally remained composed and were rarely affected by the pheromones of ordinary Alphas.
She had served as his secretary for years.
And yet she still wasn’t immune.
Footsteps suddenly echoed down the hallway.
Yue Yue straightened immediately.
In the blink of an eye, her elegant demeanor returned. She walked calmly back to her desk as if nothing had happened.
Professional.
Graceful.
Completely dignified.
Inside, however, she was still screaming.
The meeting was scheduled for the next morning.
10:00 A.M.
Location: Military Stability Division Headquarters.
Wu Sou Wei stepped through the main entrance with steady confidence. His white laboratory coat was draped neatly over one arm rather than worn, revealing a fitted grey shirt beneath and dark linen trousers. Polished black shoes tapped softly against the marble floor as he walked.
The building was filled almost entirely with trained Alphas.
Even so—
Several heads turned the moment he entered.
Unlike most personnel in the Military Stability Division, who spent their days in field operations and containment missions, Wu Sou Wei worked primarily in laboratories and research facilities. It was rare for him to appear in person at another division’s headquarters.
Which made the sight even more striking.
His hair—an unmistakable shade of red—stood out immediately in the otherwise rigid, uniform environment.
Combined with his composed posture, sharp features, and polite expression, he drew attention without even trying.
At 180 centimeters tall, his slender build and calm, controlled movements carried a quiet authority.
Even among Alphas, the effect was noticeable.
At the reception desk, the officer on duty stared for half a second too long.
Her coworker immediately kicked her under the table.
“Ah—!”
She jolted before stammering, “S-sorry! How can I help you?”
Wu Sou Wei only smiled politely.
“I’m here for the meeting with Division Head Chi Cheng.”
The receptionist blinked again before quickly checking the schedule.
“Oh—yes! The conference room on the third floor.”
Wu Sou Wei nodded in thanks and stepped aside to wait for someone from the division to escort him.
The moment he moved out of earshot—
The receptionist leaned toward her coworker and whispered excitedly.
“Did you see him?!”
Her coworker immediately hissed back, “Behave! He’s an Alpha!”
“So what?” she whispered defensively. “He’s incredibly handsome!”
Her eyes practically sparkled.
“Doesn’t he look like an actor? I swear he could’ve been an idol when he was younger.”
Her coworker gave her a long look.
“You’re also an Alpha.”
The receptionist shrugged confidently.
“My primary gender is still female.”
She grinned.
“I have a chance.”
Her coworker stared at her like she had just lost her mind.
Did she really fall in love in five seconds?
She glanced back toward Wu Sou Wei, who was waiting calmly near the elevator.
…To be fair.
He really was handsome.
Not the intimidating kind of handsome like their own division head.
Something softer.
Refined.
Almost elegant.
Still—
The coworker rubbed her temple.
Wasn’t this man here to help solve the increasing aggression between Alphas?
If the situation kept escalating, it might eventually affect the entire building. After all, nearly everyone here was an Alpha.
But after a moment she shrugged.
Well…
It wasn’t every day they got such a pleasant visual distraction.
She wouldn’t complain if he visited again.
After five minutes of waiting, someone finally approached him.
“I’m sorry, sir. We had an incident involving a few Alphas that needed to be handled first,” said Guo Chengyu, the Vice Commander of the Military Stability Division.
Wu Sou Wei tilted his head slightly.
“Chengyu…?” he said.
Guo Chengyu looked up—then froze.
“…Qiong?”
Shock flashed across his face. What the hell was this man doing here?
Wu Sou Wei looked at him, barely holding back his laughter.
“You’re the Vice Commander of Military Stability and you don’t even recognize the face of the Head of the Scent Regulation Bureau?” His sarcastic tone was strangely endearing.
Guo Chengyu pressed the elevator button. When the doors closed and only the two of them were inside, Guo Chengyu spoke again.
“To be fair, you’ve never attended a formal meeting for years! And you never told me where you actually work!”
Well…
Wu Sou Wei had always crashed at his boyfriend, Xiaoshuai’s apartment.
At first, Guo Chengyu had been jealous. But after learning how the two of them had supported each other after losing their parents, he couldn’t complain anymore.
If Wu Qiong had feelings for Xiaoshuai, Guo Chengyu was certain he would have lost long ago.
In the end, he was simply grateful. This man had basically married his job—even if he had hidden it for so long.
Then again… Guo Chengyu had never really asked.
'Privacy was still a thing, right?'
“Did you change your name or something?” Guo Chengyu asked. “Ever since I’ve known you, your name’s been Wu Qiong.”
Wu Sou Wei gave him a lazy glance.
“You know what? Next time, try doing some basic research about the person you’re about to meet.”
Guo Chengyu only rolled his eyes.
Wu Sou Wei chuckled lightly.
“Ask Xiaoshuai later. By the way, I even made a bet with him about whether you’d ever realize I work at the Scent Regulation Bureau—as the head, no less.”
Guo Chengyu rolled his eyes again.
“You two and your endless bets.” He paused. “So who won?”
The elevator stopped.
Wu Sou Wei adjusted his white coat, smoothing it down as his expression shifted back into professional calm.
“Xiaoshuai,” he said. “By the way, he’s the one who forced me to send that proposal to your division. He’s been mad that you’ve been coming home late for an entire month.”
Guo Chengyu gestured for Wu Sou Wei to step out first, leaning closer to whisper—
“Bless you. I almost danced when your proposal arrived.”
Then he straightened instantly, returning to the composed demeanor expected of an Alpha officer.
“This room, sir. Please come in. Our head is already waiting.”
He stepped aside with a subtle wink.
Wu Sou Wei simply nodded before stepping into the meeting room.
The meeting room was simple.
Thick walls.
One desk.
Two leather chairs.
It looked as if the room had been rearranged just for this meeting.
The air tightened between them, heavy with competing pheromones. For a split second, Chi Cheng’s fingers tightened on the armrest of his chair. Dangerous. His Alpha instinct reacted before his mind did.
Across the table, Wu Sou Wei paused mid-movement, as if he had noticed it too. Then he simply smiled.
Chi Cheng stood.
Wu Sou Wei did the same.
They stepped forward and shook hands.
“Chi Cheng.”
“Wu Sou Wei.”
The moment their hands met, pheromones leaked into the air.
Invisible. But suffocating.
They clashed immediately—instinctively fighting to claim the same territory. Wu Sou Wei wasn’t one of Chi Cheng’s subordinates, and Chi Cheng’s Alpha instincts treated him like a foreign intruder.
Wu Sou Wei’s pheromones responded the same way.
Neither of them backed down.
On the surface, it looked perfectly polite—Chi Cheng’s cold nod and Wu Sou Wei’s professional smile.
But the atmosphere between them grew heavier with every second, the pressure of their pheromones pressing silently against the thick walls of the room.
They released their handshake almost at the same time and returned to their seats.
The moment he sat down, Wu Sou Wei pulled a small notebook from his pocket and wrote something quickly.
Then he spoke without looking up.
“I assume pheromone leakage and territorial claiming like this is normal between unfamiliar Alphas,” he said calmly. “So what exactly did your division find unusual about these cases?”
Straight to business.
Chi Cheng gave a small nod, silently approving the man’s efficiency.
“We discovered the aggression isn’t just about losing control,” he said. “It starts with one Alpha… and then spreads.”
Wu Sou Wei’s pen paused.
Chi Cheng continued. “It spreads to the others.”
Wu Sou Wei finally looked up. “Interesting,” he murmured.
He flipped to a new page in his notebook. “On our side, we found several artificial chemical compounds in their blood tests.”
Chi Cheng watched him for a moment.
Wu Sou Wei tapped his pen lightly against the paper. “It appears to be some kind of drug.”
“…A drug? The illegal kind?” Chi Cheng asked.
“Most likely.” Wu Sou Wei turned another page in his notes. “We only confirmed it yesterday. Some Alphas were captured, and we obtained blood samples. The individuals were then transferred to your division.”
Chi Cheng leaned back slightly. “So that’s why we had to deal with several cases early this morning.”
Wu Sou Wei raised one brow but didn’t comment on the complaint. Instead, he wrote something down.
Then he spoke casually, “the latest data shows your division reports a loss of control in sixty-seven percent of cases.” He looked up. “That’s unusually high.”
Chi Cheng’s gaze turned colder. “Your bureau allowed the chemical to circulate long enough for it to spread.”
A pause.
“It’s been almost a month,” he continued flatly. “And you’ve only just discovered it.”
Silence fell in the room.
If atmosphere alone could kill, there would already be a corpse lying between them.
The air grew heavier.
Neither of them released pheromones deliberately.
But neither of them bothered to suppress them either.
A sudden knock broke the tension.
Both men turned their heads toward the door at the same time, their gazes sharp.
The door opened before either of them could respond.
Guo Chengyu stepped inside—and immediately froze.
“Holy—”
He took one step back, covering his nose instinctively.
“Calm down, both of you,” he said with a half-laugh. “At this rate an Omega could get pregnant just by walking past this room and breathing once.”
He shut the door behind him and locked it.
If an Omega really passed by the hallway right now, the pheromones leaking out of this room could become a serious problem.
Chi Cheng glanced at him, slightly surprised.
Guo Chengyu was speaking far too casually for someone standing in front of a division head from another bureau. Normally he cared too much about maintaining his image—proud Alpha, perfect vice leader, always composed.
But today he clearly didn’t care.
He walked straight to the table and placed two files down. “This is the latest report from the case this morning.”
He handed one copy to each of them. “Look at this graph.”
Wu Sou Wei and Chi Cheng lowered their gazes to the documents.
Guo Chengyu tapped the page.
“The rationality index of the Alpha involved dropped to almost zero.”
His expression darkened slightly.
“And two other Alphas who were just passing by ended up showing the same symptoms after exposure.”
Silence fell again.
Wu Sou Wei let out a short sigh.
For some reason, he felt the need to lower his pride just a little. Perhaps meeting another dominant Alpha had put his pheromones on edge.
“We’ve been working on a suppressant since yesterday,” he said calmly. “Division Head Chi Cheng, could you come to our headquarters tomorrow evening? The compound will be fresher then, and we’ll need your cooperation for the test.”
He paused for a moment.
His sharp eyes softened briefly as he thought, widening slightly before returning to their usual focused gaze.
Chi Cheng found the change oddly amusing.
Wu Sou Wei continued, “of course, if you’re busy, Vice Commander Guo Chengyu could also—”
The bright hope on Guo Chengyu’s face was almost painful to watch. As his childhood friend, Chi Cheng felt it was his duty to crush it.
“No,” Chi Cheng said flatly.
“I’ll go.”
He leaned back slightly, completely ignoring the murderous glare now aimed at him.
“I’ve already confirmed my involvement in this matter.”
Guo Chengyu stared at him.
If looks could kill, Chi Cheng would already be dead.
Chi Cheng simply returned the look with a faint, smug expression.
The next day, it was Chi Cheng’s turn to visit the Scent Regulation Bureau headquarters.
He arrived still wearing his combat uniform. Dust clung to the dark fabric, evidence of the case he had just finished handling not long ago. He hadn’t even had time to return to the office—let alone go home to clean up.
Still, the dirt did nothing to ruin his appearance.
If anything, it only made him look more dangerous.
From the moment he stepped into the building, Chi Cheng could feel eyes following him.
The receptionist at the registration desk even stuttered slightly while handing him the visitor pass.
“P-Please wait a moment, sir,” she said quickly. “Our division head will come personally to escort you.”
Chi Cheng simply nodded and leaned against the counter, waiting.
A few minutes later, someone approached.
Red hair.
Wu Sou Wei walked toward him calmly, his posture relaxed but composed. A pair of thin glasses rested on his nose, slightly hiding the faint darkness under his eyes.
His skin was almost pale.
Chi Cheng wondered briefly if it was because the man rarely left the laboratory.
The white lab coat he wore swayed lightly as he walked, and beneath it Chi Cheng could clearly see the outline of a slim figure—a narrow waist visible even through the fitted shirt underneath.
Chi Cheng’s gaze lingered for a second longer than necessary.
What was the point of growing up as a dominant Alpha, only to end up with a body that looked more delicate than most Omegas?
And that face… even many Omegas would struggle to compete with it.
“Division Head Chi Cheng.”
The voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Wu Sou Wei was standing right in front of him now.
“Are you listening?”
Chi Cheng straightened slightly.
“Just call me Chi Cheng.”
Wu Sou Wei nodded once.
“Alright, Mr. Chi Cheng.”
He handed him a security card.
“Use this to pass the security gates. If this case continues as expected, you’ll probably be visiting here often.”
Wu Sou Wei turned and started walking.
“Follow me.”
Chi Cheng watched the man’s back for a moment before moving after him.
He had to admit something. It had been a long time since another person managed to distract him.
And strangely enough… it was an Alpha.
The realization was almost amusing.
“Here.”
Wu Sou Wei handed him a towel.
Only then did Chi Cheng notice that they were standing inside a small but comfortable room—more like a private lounge than an office space.
“This is my private quarter,” Wu Sou Wei explained calmly. “The lab is a sterile environment, so you’ll need to wash up first.”
He gestured toward a door.
“The bathroom is that way.”
Chi Cheng raised a brow.
Second meeting, and he was already being invited into the man’s private quarters.
… whatever.
He nodded and went to wash up anyway.
A few minutes later, he came out wearing the clothes Wu Sou Wei had left for him—a fitted T-shirt and a pair of jogging pants.
They were a little tight, but he didn’t complain.
Behind him, Wu Sou Wei muttered quietly under his breath.
“…Why is it tight on him?”
Chi Cheng glanced at him.
Wu Sou Wei frowned slightly, clearly confused.
“When I wear those, they’re loose. I tossed them in the drawer and forgot they even existed.”
Chi Cheng looked down at the clothes on his own body.
Then back at Wu Sou Wei.
“…Maybe you should reconsider your definition of ‘loose.’”
His sharp eyes widened for a brief second—clearly shocked that Chi Cheng had heard his muttering.
Then they quickly returned to their usual sharpness.
“Ehem.” Wu Sou Wei cleared his throat.
“Let’s go to the lab.”
A faint swirl of Alpha pheromones drifted around him, like a light wind stirred by embarrassment.
Chi Cheng noticed it immediately. The sensation was strange.
It almost felt like those pheromones were trying to push him away from Wu Sou Wei’s territory—but not quite.
“This way.”
Chi Cheng followed him down the corridor until they reached a smaller room.
It looked like a preparation office. Several lockers lined the walls.
Wu Sou Wei opened one and took out the largest white lab coat he could find before handing it to Chi Cheng.
“You’ll need this.”
Chi Cheng put it on without comment.
Then they moved toward another door.
This one had heavier security.
Wu Sou Wei entered a password, tapped his identification card, and waited for the system to confirm clearance. The door unlocked with a soft mechanical sound.
They stepped inside.
The laboratory was enormous.
For a moment, Chi Cheng couldn’t even tell where the actual center of the room was. From the entrance alone, all he could see were white walls, white doors, white equipment. Everything was white.
The floor itself rose and dipped in strange levels—not quite stairs, but sloped platforms that moved slightly higher or lower depending on the section of the lab. It felt almost like walking through layered terrain.
Chi Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Maybe it was designed this way intentionally. If someone unfamiliar entered the lab—they would become disoriented very quickly.
Chi Cheng followed Wu Sou Wei through a narrower corridor that branched off from the main laboratory. They eventually stopped in a smaller room that looked more like a storage space.
Shelves lined the walls. Small plastic baskets sat neatly arranged, each with numbered tags attached to them. Wu Sou Wei checked a few of them, scanning the labels quickly. After a moment, he took around ten small sealed packs and placed them in a tray.
Without saying anything, he walked out again, signaling Chi Cheng to follow.
They entered another room. This one looked much simpler.
Soft green walls.
A wooden table.
Two chairs facing each other.
Almost like a small meeting room meant for private discussions.
Wu Sou Wei placed the packs on the table and gestured silently for Chi Cheng to sit. Chi Cheng pulled out the chair and sat down. Wu Sou Wei took the seat opposite him.
“I brought ten packs of suppressant samples from our latest subjects,” he began.
His tone returned to its usual calm, analytical rhythm.
“Normally we would run several rounds of testing before approving production.”
He tapped one of the packs lightly.
“But given the current situation…”
Wu Sou Wei leaned back slightly.
“…it may be more practical to release it unofficially first as an emergency supply.”
His sharp eyes lifted to meet Chi Cheng’s.
“What do you think?”
Chi Cheng simply nodded in approval.
Wu Sou Wei didn’t seem bothered by the lack of words. If anything, he looked oddly satisfied.
He hummed lightly under his breath as he arranged the sample packs on the table.
“Then I’ll send around fifty packs to your division,” he said casually.
“Just tell Guo Chengyu to send a report if any side effects appear.”
Chi Cheng paused.
His eyes lifted from the table. “…You know Guo Chengyu?”
It was the first real question he had asked since arriving. Not because the matter was important—but because he was curious. Guo Chengyu had been strangely casual around Wu Sou Wei yesterday.
Wu Sou Wei looked up from the samples. For a moment, Wu Sou Wei’s expression froze. Then he looked upward as if thinking about something. A second later, he shot Chi Cheng a brief side glance before chuckling softly.
“Just ask Guo Chengyu,” he said lazily.
“I’m too lazy to explain things that aren’t related to work.”
He leaned back in his chair.
Across the table, Chi Cheng found himself watching him.
Wu Sou Wei’s face was unexpectedly expressive.
His eyes shifted quickly when he thought.
His brows moved when he was annoyed.
The corner of his mouth twitched before he spoke.
For someone who carried himself like a calm researcher…his reactions were almost—
Chi Cheng paused.
…almost adorable.
“Hey, Sir Chi Cheng… you look unfocused again.”
Wu Sou Wei tilted his head slightly.
“Did you fall into hell before coming here?”
Chi Cheng snapped back to attention. He really had been distracted today.
Because of a certain red-haired Alpha sitting across from him.
“I apologize,” he said calmly. “I’ve been overworking for almost a month. It’s probably catching up to me.”
The reason was… something else entirely. But Chi Cheng was not the type to reveal that.
Wu Sou Wei gave a small pout and nodded.
Chi Cheng paused.
…Did a fully grown Alpha just pout?
And why did that expression fit that beautiful face so naturally?
“I understand,” Wu Sou Wei continued, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve been lacking sleep myself.”
He frowned thoughtfully.
“Wait… did I even sleep last night?”
A second later he clicked his tongue.
“Aiya! Now I’m getting distracted too.”
He pushed a printed report across the table toward Chi Cheng.
“Here.”
Chi Cheng picked it up.
“We’re going to be the test subjects for this,” Wu Sou Wei said.
“We tried replicating the artificial chemical compound from the samples. But to our surprise, it doesn’t just contain synthetic chemicals.”
He tapped a line on the report.
“There’s also DNA from a living organism mixed into it.”
His expression grew more serious.
“We already tested it on animals.”
A brief pause.
“They died instantly.” Wu Sou Wei leaned back slightly. “Their bodies couldn’t withstand the pheromone interaction.”
His eyes lifted to Chi Cheng’s. “But two dominant Alphas like us…”
A faint smile appeared.
“…should be able to survive it.”
Chi Cheng read the document carefully, scanning each line without rushing.
“If ordinary Alphas become violent and irrational,” he said after a moment, “and the effect spreads through exposure… wouldn’t the reaction be worse for us?”
Wu Sou Wei nodded immediately.
“We considered that possibility.”
He tapped the report with his pen.
“Our hypothesis is that it may not affect us the same way. Dominant Alphas like us have a higher pheromone tolerance and slightly different physiological traits.”
He paused, inhaling slowly before continuing.
“And that’s the dangerous part.”
His expression grew more serious.
“If whoever created this drug manages to adjust the formula so it affects dominant Alphas too… then we’re finished.”
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Then Wu Sou Wei suddenly straightened, as if shaking the heavy thought away.
“So for this test—”
He flipped the page and pointed to a dosage chart.
“—we’ll treat it like a vaccine trial.”
A faint smile appeared on his face again.
“We start with a very small dose and record the reaction.”
His eyes lifted toward Chi Cheng.
“And then we observe how our bodies respond.”
“I see your point,” Chi Cheng said after finishing the report.
“If we don’t use our wild card early… we’ll just keep losing. Right?”
The reaction was immediate. Wu Sou Wei’s face lit up.
The sudden beam of happiness on that expressive face was almost… dazzling.
His sharp eyes widened, shining like someone who had just received the exact toy he had been hoping for.
Comparing a fully grown dominant Alpha to a happy child might have been a little extravagant—but that was the closest description Chi Cheng could find.
And why did he keep thinking about the fact that this man was an Alpha?
Wu Sou Wei’s pheromones had been nudging at him since earlier.
Not aggressively.
Not like a challenge.
More like a persistent poke.
Testing. Prodding. Brushing against Chi Cheng’s own pheromones again and again.
Normally, that kind of behavior between two dominant Alphas would lead to irritation… or outright aggression.
Yet strangely enough—
Chi Cheng didn’t feel annoyed.
If anything, the sensation felt… oddly endearing.
The realization made him pause.
…Had he somehow been exposed to a different chemical himself?
Because the reaction he was experiencing was completely different from the cases they were investigating.
Instead of aggression—
He found himself developing a strange fondness for the Alpha sitting across from him.
And that… was dangerous on an entirely different level.
The official experiment began two days later.
In the meantime, administrative changes were finalized.
Yue Yue was appointed temporary head of the Scent Regulation Bureau.
Guo Chengyu became temporary head of the Military Stability Division.
Both divisions were now operating under interim leadership while the investigation continued.
And the first trial was scheduled in the deepest section of the Scent Regulation Bureau headquarters.
Inside the largest containment room—
surrounded by thick reinforced walls and layers of glass—
designed specifically to prevent pheromone leakage.
Even the smallest scent fluctuation would be contained within the chamber.
Wu Sou Wei stood at the front of the room, instructing his research team.
“This first test is critical,” he said calmly.
“For the past month, we have been unable to move forward. Today, we finally begin.”
He ensured only Beta staff and select Alpha personnel were present. No Omegas were allowed inside the facility during the test. The presence of two dominant Alphas alone was already a significant risk.
Even before the test began, the atmosphere inside the lab felt heavy.
Pressure hung in the air.
Chi Cheng had changed out of his combat uniform into simple white testing attire.
Wu Sou Wei did the same.
Inside the chamber, they were seated far apart—positioned on opposite sides of the reinforced glass room.
Each of them had an IV line prepared.
A Ringer lactate solution was already connected to the infusion system.
The diluted compound functioned as a biological countermeasure—similar to a vaccine—introducing a weakened version of the artificial agent to stimulate systemic resistance without overwhelming the body.
However, it was not administered all at once like a standard vaccine. Instead, the chemical compound was delivered gradually through the IV line, slowly diluted by the Ringer lactate to reduce the risk of sudden physiological shock.
The protocol was designed for stability.
Not speed.
Not force.
Control.
The infusion pumps were installed outside the chamber. Only the tubes entered the room. This design ensured no staff member would need direct contact during administration. The method prioritized safety. Especially when dealing with two dominant Alphas.
After everything was prepared, Wu Sou Wei signaled his researchers to leave the chamber.
One by one, they exited the containment room. Until only two remained inside.
Wu Sou Wei.
Chi Cheng.
The heavy door closed.
A secure locking system activated with a mechanical click.
From the control panel outside, Wu Sou Wei gave a final signal.
Begin the experiment.
Specialized cameras were activated.
Not standard surveillance —but pheromone flow monitors.
The system functioned similarly to a heat map,
visualizing pheromone density and movement inside the chamber.
Any fluctuation, no matter how subtle, would be recorded and analyzed immediately.
First Dose.
0.1 cc of the chemical compound was injected into the IV line.
The liquid traveled slowly through the tubing, blending with the Ringer lactate before entering their bloodstream.
No immediate reaction.
On the monitor, the pheromone readings shifted slightly.
Not colliding.
Not escalating.
Just moving.
Like two currents circling each other—almost playful.
Which was unusual.
Under normal circumstances, two dominant Alphas confined in a sealed room would trigger violent pheromone pressure. Instinct would interpret the situation as a direct territorial threat, leading to suppression attempts or dominance escalation.
Instead, the pheromone patterns were orbiting.
Observers outside the chamber exchanged brief glances, but maintained professional composure. Even if the data appeared abnormal, it still needed to be recorded.
Their division head had always emphasized: Small details can become the decisive factor. So they documented everything.
They waited for ten full minutes. No significant change. According to protocol, the dose was increased.
Another 0.1 cc was administered.
The process would repeat every ten minutes, gradually escalating while monitoring physiological response.
The hardest part of this procedure was not the injection itself. It was maintaining composure. Staying calm. Writing down even the smallest fluctuations.
Because inside that chamber, pressure continued to build—even if it wasn’t yet visible as aggression.
Two dominant Alphas.
Sealed in a reinforced room.
Connected by IV lines.
And watched only through thick glass.
The atmosphere itself felt like it was holding its breath.
xxx
The dosage reached its final planned increment.
A quiet confirmation appeared across the monitoring screens.
Chemical compound concentration: maximum test threshold.
Inside the containment chamber, the pheromone density had already surpassed the safe stability range. What filled the sealed room was no longer a controlled environment.
It was turbulence.
Chi Cheng’s dominance field collided violently with Wu Sou Wei’s responding pheromones. The two Alpha signatures were no longer simply reacting to the experimental compound.
They were escalating.
Across the monitoring panels, the data lines began to distort. The readings fluctuated sharply, spreading across the screen like fractured waves of heat.
Then—
A sharp alarm cut through the laboratory.
Containment threshold exceeded.
Outside the chamber, the senior researchers moved immediately.
“Preparing suppressant protocol.”
Inside, Wu Sou Wei noticed the change on the overhead display. His eyes narrowed slightly.
This wasn’t part of the scheduled procedure. The final of the chemical compound dose had pushed both Alpha systems beyond the projected regulation capacity.
For one brief moment, the graphs stabilized.
Then the stabilizer curve collapsed.
The chemical feedback loop destabilized completely.
Inside the chamber, the air pressure shifted violently.
The change triggered something deeper than conscious thought.
Chi Cheng stepped forward.
The IV line in his arm had already torn loose. Blood trailed down from the needle wound, staining his sleeve, but he didn’t seem to notice.
The pheromone surge had already clouded the rational layer of his mind.
He wasn’t attacking out of anger. His body simply demanded it.
Under extreme pheromone overload, a dominant Alpha’s instinct recognized only one rule:
Establish dominance.
Wu Sou Wei stepped forward at the same moment.
The excessive dosage had pushed his system into the same unstable state.
The distance between them vanished in a second.
The fight began.
Fast.
Controlled.
Powerful.
Two trained dominant Alphas. Neither willing to yield.
Their movements were sharp and precise—instinct-guided, but far from reckless. Years of combat training remained deeply embedded in muscle memory.
A strike.
A block.
A counter.
Every impact carried suppressed strength barely contained by discipline.
This was not a fight born from hatred. It was the collapse of dominance equilibrium.
While their fists collided, their pheromones did the same. Each movement fed the biological pressure surrounding them. The more their bodies clashed, the more violently their pheromone fields reacted.
On the external monitors, two dominance signatures spiraled upward, overlapping in unstable waves.
The chamber sensors began compensating automatically.
Pressure stabilizers engaged.
Containment walls reinforced.
But the fluctuations continued climbing.
Emergency neutralization systems attempted to trigger.
They were overwhelmed almost instantly.
“Pressure levels still rising.”
“Containment field compensating.”
Warning indicators flashed red across the control panels.
The lead researcher made the decision quickly.
“This is the moment. Deploy the suppressant.”
The team activated the secondary system.
Instead of injection, the suppressant would be released in aerosol form—allowing faster absorption through the respiratory system.
A faint hiss echoed through the chamber walls. Vents along the perimeter opened. Neutralizing gas began flooding the sealed space. External systems adjusted the internal pressure and chemical balance remotely. No one attempted to open the chamber.
This stage required observation.
They needed to measure how much suppressant dosage was necessary to stabilize two agitated dominant Alpha pheromone systems.
Within seconds, additional containment shielding locked into place.
The chamber shifted into high-level isolation mode.
No entry permitted. No exit permitted.
Inside, the suppressant gas slowly began affecting their systems.
But stabilization would not happen immediately.
Under this level of pheromone overload, recovery required time.
Inside the chamber, Chi Cheng moved in again.
Wu Sou Wei met the attack head-on.
Their shoulders collided, force reverberating through the sealed space.
Another strike—then something unexpected happened.
Chi Cheng’s grip tightened around Wu Sou Wei’s wrist.
The strike stopped halfway between them.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Their bodies were too close now. Close enough that the space between them filled with heat and thick pheromone saturation.
Wu Sou Wei’s breathing had become slower, deeper. The suppressant gas had already begun circulating through the chamber, but its effect had not yet reached the level necessary to suppress two dominant Alpha systems.
Chi Cheng’s chest rose and fell sharply.
Their eyes met. Directly.
The distance between their faces was barely half a step.
Wu Sou Wei could see it clearly now—the faint change in Chi Cheng’s pupils, the tension held in the muscles around his eyes.
The pheromone pressure in the chamber surged again.
Not violently this time. But intensely.
Like two currents colliding beneath the surface of deep water.
The monitoring system outside reacted immediately.
Resonance fluctuation detected.
Inside the chamber, neither of them knew. Or perhaps they did.
Chi Cheng’s grip shifted slightly on Wu Sou Wei’s wrist—not loosening, not tightening.
Just adjusting.
Wu Sou Wei didn’t pull away.
For the first time since the fight began, neither Alpha attempted to strike again.
The aggression that had driven their movements seconds earlier had not disappeared. It had changed form.
Their pheromones were still colliding, but the pattern had shifted into something the system had difficulty categorizing.
The air between them felt heavier.
Warmer.
Every breath carried the other’s scent directly into their lungs.
Wu Sou Wei’s gaze lowered for a fraction of a second, instinctively tracking the faint line of blood running from Chi Cheng’s arm where the IV needle had been torn free.
Then his eyes lifted again. Their gazes locked once more.
Chi Cheng’s expression was no longer purely combative.
Something in his focus had sharpened.
Studying.
Measuring.
Recognizing.
Another pulse of pheromone pressure spread outward from their bodies.
Outside the chamber, the system struggled to interpret the new pattern.
The dominance escalation had stalled.
But the pheromone density continued fluctuating in irregular waves.
Inside, Wu Sou Wei slowly inhaled.
Chi Cheng’s scent was stronger at this distance—far stronger than the sensors could properly translate into data. It carried the unmistakable signal of a dominant Alpha.
But layered beneath it was something unexpected. Something that made his own pheromone response tighten instinctively in his chest.
Chi Cheng seemed to notice the change as well.
His eyes narrowed slightly. Neither of them spoke.
Words would have been meaningless under this level of biological interference. Another slow breath passed between them.
Their foreheads almost touched now.
The fight had stopped. But the tension had not.
If anything—it had become more dangerous.
Outside the chamber, the suppressant gas continued flooding the sealed environment.
The containment system shifted fully into high-level isolation mode.
The researchers could only watch the data streams.
Inside the chamber, the two dominant Alpha signatures remained locked together at an unstable equilibrium.
Not fighting.
Not separating.
Simply standing there—
Close enough that every breath they took carried the other’s pheromones directly into their system.
And the longer they remained like that,
the more unpredictable the outcome became.
Inside the control room, no one spoke.
The monitors still displayed the chamber feed.
Two Alpha signatures. Locked in unstable equilibrium.
One of the researchers swallowed. “Is this… normal?”
No one answered.
But it was certainly not normal. Because no one had ever recorded a pheromone interaction pattern like this before.
Guo Chengyu walked into the headquarters of the Scent Regulation Bureau.
After a brief conversation at the front desk, one of the staff members guided him through the building toward the private residential area.
When they arrived at the door, the staff member stopped.
“This is the private residence of the Head of the Scent Regulation Bureau.”
Guo Chengyu nodded politely. “Thank you.”
The staff member left.
Guo Chengyu raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door.
A moment later, it opened.
Standing there was a man over 190 centimeters tall, wearing a loose cream-colored T-shirt and brown satin pajama pants.
Guo Chengyu blinked.
“…After one week and you’ve already changed into a completely different person.”
He couldn't hold back the comment. His mouth had been itching to say something for days.
Being the temporary head of the division was far from easy. After a full week without his division commander, Guo Chengyu felt like his patience had been ground down by endless reports and paperwork.
He sincerely hoped Chi Cheng would return to work soon.
And now look at him.
Even his clothing had changed.
Gone were the usual dark and black tones. Instead, he was wearing soft pastel colors like some retired house cat.
Chi Cheng simply shrugged and stepped aside, letting him enter.
Guo Chengyu walked in, glancing around the room with visible suspicion. “…This place is?”
“Wu Sou Wei’s private quarters,” Chi Cheng replied calmly. “Did you leave your ears at home?”
Well.
At least his mouth was still full of thorns.
“Yes, I heard,” Guo Chengyu said, frowning slightly. “But what are you doing in someone else’s private residence?”
Chi Cheng sat down on the single sofa in the living room.
The place looked nothing like the cold, sterile exterior of the building, which was filled with white everywhere.
Instead, it felt more like a warm, small apartment.
“Because I live here.”
Guo Chengyu’s frown deepened.
And why exactly are you living here instead of coming back to work?
He wanted to start nagging immediately, but managed to hold his tongue.
Chi Cheng tilted his head slightly toward the long sofa.
“Sit.”
Guo Chengyu sat down.
Then Chi Cheng spoke in his usual cold tone.
“Report.”
Guo Chengyu leaned back slightly on the sofa, his expression turning more serious.
“First, the field results.”
Chi Cheng gave a short nod, signaling him to continue.
“We’ve already distributed the earliest version of the preventive compound to our division staff,” Guo Chengyu said. “For internal personnel, it’s being administered like a vaccine.”
He opened the report tablet he had brought with him.
“So far, the results are promising. None of our personnel have shown signs of becoming contagious—even after direct skin contact with agitated Alphas.”
Chi Cheng listened quietly.
“For civilians, however, we’re using the suppressant version,” Guo Chengyu continued. “Something like an emergency patch or topical application. It’s easier to distribute and doesn’t require medical supervision.”
Chi Cheng nodded slightly.
“The suppressant reacts well once administered,” Guo Chengyu said. “But there is a drawback.”
Chi Cheng lifted his gaze.
“The reaction time.”
Guo Chengyu scrolled through the data on his tablet before continuing. “On average, it takes around ten minutes before the pheromone instability begins to stabilize.”
Chi Cheng frowned faintly.
“Too slow.”
“Exactly.”
Guo Chengyu tapped the screen again.
“Our staff suggested a workaround. If the subject is rendered unconscious first and then given the suppressant, stabilization happens during unconsciousness. By the time they wake up, their pheromone levels are already under control.”
Chi Cheng considered that for a moment.
“…Not ideal.”
“But effective,” Guo Chengyu replied.
A brief silence passed between them.
Then Guo Chengyu continued with the second part of the report.
“And we finally found a lead on the distribution network.”
Chi Cheng’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“The drug is spreading through illegal channels in nightclubs,” Guo Chengyu said. “That’s why it reached civilian areas so quickly.”
He turned the tablet so Chi Cheng could see the data.
“It spreads fast because it’s contagious once an Alpha loses control.”
Chi Cheng scanned the screen.
“At minimum, we’ve already confiscated around five kilograms of the substance.”
He paused briefly.
“And it comes in multiple forms.”
Chi Cheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Liquid,” Guo Chengyu listed. “Aerosol and tablets.”
“The effects vary depending on the delivery method.”
Chi Cheng leaned back against the sofa. “…Which one spreads the fastest?”
Guo Chengyu answered immediately.
“Aerosol.”
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Chi Cheng nodded once.
“I’ll inform Souwei later.”
His voice was calm, almost casual.
“For now, keep the suppressant version stored within our division. Don’t distribute it outside yet.”
Guo Chengyu nodded and continued taking mental notes.
“And notify the Ministry of Health about the preventive compound,” Chi Cheng added. “Discuss it with the Prime Minister and determine whether it should be distributed to the general population… or restricted to official personnel only.”
“Understood.”
Guo Chengyu answered professionally.
But inwardly—
His mouth started itching again.
Souwei.
Just like that.
No title. No formal address. Not even “Wu Sou Wei.”
Just Souwei.
The Head of the Scent Regulation Bureau.
Guo Chengyu slowly lifted his eyes to look at the man sitting across from him.
Chi Cheng looked exactly the same as always—calm, sharp, composed like a blade resting in its sheath.
But something was… different.
The tone.
The subtle softness when he said that name.
Guo Chengyu forced himself to remain professional.
But the thought still crept into his mind.
Wait… don’t tell me…
Did these two Dominant Alphas… imprint or something insane like that?
It had only been one week.
One week.
And this cold, gangster-like man—who had always kept everyone at arm’s length—suddenly sounded almost… gentle.
Not toward a woman.
Not toward an Omega.
But toward another man.
An Alpha.
And not just any Alpha.
A Dominant Alpha.
Guo Chengyu stared at Chi Cheng for a moment longer.
Then slowly looked away.
…No.
'That would be completely insane.'
And yet—
His instincts as an Alpha were telling him something had definitely changed.
Guo Chengyu finished delivering the report.
Chi Cheng had already reviewed the key points and confirmed that he would return to work the following Monday—four days from now.
Guo Chengyu didn’t comment on it.
'Why can’t he just return tomorrow?'
The thought crossed his mind, but he wisely kept it to himself.
After a brief pause, he stood.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
Chi Cheng gave a short nod from the sofa.
Guo Chengyu walked toward the door of the private quarter, already preparing to step out.
Then—a door deeper inside the private quarters opened.
Someone stepped out.
It was Wu Sou Wei.
His hair was slightly messy, like someone who had just woken up. He wore loose home clothes and looked half-asleep, one hand covering a lazy yawn as he walked into the living room.
Wu Sou Wei rubbed the back of his neck as he stepped further inside.
Then his sleepy gaze landed on Chi Cheng.
Casual. Natural.
Like this was the most ordinary thing in the world.
Completely ignoring the presence of a guest, he said, “gege…”
His voice was still rough with sleep.
“Did you already take your suppressant this morning?”
Guo Chengyu froze.
For a moment, his brain simply… stopped.
Chi Cheng glanced at him, a small curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
“I took it.”
Wu Sou Wei nodded lazily, satisfied.
“Good.”
Another yawn escaped him.
Guo Chengyu blinked once.
Twice.
Inside his head—system error.
Dominant Alpha.
Calling another Dominant Alpha—gege?
Guo Chengyu stared at them.
'Suppressant?'
'Morning?'
His gaze slowly moved between the two men in the room.
Then one thought exploded in his mind—
What the hell happened last week?!
And—was that a smile on that gangster’s face?!