The temperature difference between day and night on V99 was immense. Every night, frost would form near the base’s ventilation shafts, useless even with the climate control system running.

Ji Ruo turned up the indoor temperature again before sitting back down in front of his easel. He rubbed his numb fingertips, then picked up his brush to continue painting.

The room wasn’t large. One wall was covered with oil paintings, the opposite with sketches. A simple folding screen partitioned off a small bunk bed and two desks pushed against the wall, their surfaces mostly occupied by towering stacks of books.

The door was suddenly thrown open with great force, letting in a gust of frigid air.

Ji Ruo shivered, a little exasperated. “A-Ling, next time you open the door—”

Before he could finish, he was pulled into a tight hug, sobs echoing by his ear.

“A-Ruo, Father doesn’t love us at all! He just sees us as experimental subjects! All he cares about is his experiments! Experiments! Experiments! Waaah—”

The thirteen-year-old omega boy was bundled in a thick cotton coat, tears streaming down his face, which was red from the cold.

Ji Ruo frowned slightly, gently pulling his sobbing brother away to wipe his tears. “You secretly went to Father’s lab again?”

Ji Ling nodded between sobs, his voice choked. “I wanted to ask if he would celebrate the New Year with us.”

Ji Ruo: “Why do you always ask? He’s never once celebrated the New Year with us, not since we were little.”

Ji Ling, his eyes red and swollen from crying, sat on a small stool next to his brother and rested his head listlessly on his lap.

“But if I don’t ask, there’s even less of a chance he’ll be with us.”

Ji Ruo patted his head, unsure of what to say. He couldn’t quite understand his brother’s constant longing for their father’s affection.

“I heard him telling someone that we’re his modified experimental subjects, wuuuuu—” At this, Ji Ling cried even harder. “No wonder he never comes to see us. It turns out he never even thought of us as his children!”

Ji Ruo’s fingers, threaded through his brother’s hair, curled slightly before he resumed his nonchalant tone of comfort. “Whether he sees us as his children or not doesn’t make a difference for us. Don’t be sad.”

“Was it because we weren’t obedient enough that he said that?” Ji Ling wiped his tears. “I don’t want to lose Father, A-Ruo.”

Lose him?

Ji Ruo didn’t understand.

How can you lose something you never had?

---

Once winter arrived, class time was shortened to three hours a day.

After finishing his homework in the classroom, Ji Ruo said goodbye to his five classmates and walked back to his quarters along the corridors of the underground base.

“A-Ruo.”

Another young omega boy ran up from behind him.

Ji Ruo turned his head. It was the new student who had recently joined their class, named Lin Jing.

He had heard that the Lin family was powerful and influential, and had provided enormous financial support for his father’s laboratory over the years. Several young masters from the Lin family had recently come here for school, which Ji Ruo suspected was part of some agreement between his father and the Lins.

“Is something wrong?” Ji Ruo asked. He wasn’t very familiar with Lin Jing.

Lin Jing fell into step beside Ji Ruo. “Where’s A-Ling? Is he sleeping in again? He’s missed class for two days.”

Ji Ruo shook his head. “I don’t know what he’s been busy with lately. He’s always out.”

“That’s a shame. I was hoping to ask him to hang out,” Lin Jing said with a cheerful grin.

Ji Ruo stared straight ahead, his expression neutral. “We’re not allowed to go out without permission. You have to file an application.”

“Huh? We can’t even go outside?” Lin Jing’s voice rose several degrees in astonishment. “This isn’t a prison. Why can’t we go out?”

Ji Ruo had no interest in dealing with this kind of boisterous young master, so he remained silent for the rest of the walk.

Lin Jing chattered on by himself for the entire way. Seeing that Ji Ruo wasn’t speaking, he eventually wandered off, muttering.

“What’s with him? He’s like a block of ice.”

---

Late that night, a faint noise came from the door. Ji Ruo opened his eyes, not a trace of sleepiness in them.

Someone tiptoed carefully toward the bed and stealthily climbed onto the top bunk.

“A-Ling.”

Ji Ling missed his step and nearly fell to the floor.

“Y-you’re still awake?”

Ji Ruo sat up. “Where were you today?”

“I-I was painting in the greenhouse.” Ji Ling yawned, trying to cover the panic in his voice. “I’m so tired. Good night.”

The next morning, when Ji Ruo woke up, Ji Ling was already gone from the top bunk.

The morning class was an Introduction to Human Rights. He walked into the classroom, sat in his usual seat by the wall, and opened his book to review the lesson.

Before long, Lin Jing and a few others came in, and the small classroom immediately became noisy.

Lin Jing nudged his friend beside him with his elbow and whispered, “Hey, is A-Ruo always like this? How come he never hangs out with us?”

His friend, Lin Tao, made a shushing gesture. “He’s just like that. Don’t worry about him.”

The bell rang, and a middle-aged omega walked into the classroom. He placed his lesson plan on the lectern and leaned casually against its side.

“This morning, we’ll continue our discussion on the societal value and status of the three genders. As we all know, omegas are the noblest of the three ABO genders—”

Why are omegas the noblest? Ji Ruo couldn’t understand.

The classroom door suddenly opened, and Ji Ling walked in with an alpha in his fifties or sixties.

Ji Ruo recognized him. It was the head of the Lin family who provided his father’s funding—Lin Quan.

Why is A-Ling with Lin Quan?

Ji Ruo frowned, recalling his brother’s recent habit of leaving early and returning late. He had a bad feeling.

Seeing Lin Quan, the omega teacher hurried over and bowed deeply. “My apologies, I wasn’t aware you would be visiting today.”

Lin Quan was dressed in a military uniform, his hair combed back immaculately. His eyes were sharp, showing no signs of his age. He waved a dismissive hand at the omega teacher and turned to face the six students in the classroom.

“Over this period, you should have gained a certain understanding and awareness of the status of omegas,” Lin Quan said in a deep voice. “Yet, in this day and age, omegas do not receive the treatment they deserve. They are often oppressed and bullied, simply because their pheromones aren’t strong enough.”

“Pheromones aren’t strong enough? What does that mean?” Ji Ruo asked.

Lin Quan made a gesture, and the substitute teacher, understanding, lowered a virtual screen to play a video.

The video showed all sorts of omegas being bullied and abused.

“This is outrageous!”

The room full of young omegas felt a strong sense of empathy, and halfway through the video, they were already furious.

“Why don’t those vile alphas just die?!” someone said vehemently.

Lin Quan made a placating gesture. “To change this situation, we have initiated the Omega Rights Protection Plan. You are all a part of this plan, and you shoulder a very important mission—”

Ji Ruo’s gaze discreetly swept past Lin Quan to his brother.

Ji Ling stood there confidently, looking at ease, a hint of pride in his eyes. He was completely different from the dejected boy he had been just a few days ago.

“What do we need to do?” Lin Jing asked curiously.

Lin Quan replied, “Starting today, we will begin the next phase of the curriculum: training your pheromones.”

A young alpha walked in. On Lin Quan’s command, the alpha gradually released his pheromones.

At thirteen or fourteen, the students were at the stage where their glands were developing, and it wasn’t long before one omega boy couldn’t take it anymore.

“I can’t—I can’t breathe!” His forehead was covered in sweat, his face was flushed, but his lips were pale. He collapsed onto his desk, gasping for air. “I feel so sick.”

The alpha, however, didn’t stop and continued to release his pheromones.

Lin Jing could feel his heart racing, as if he had just climbed a mountain. He felt physically exhausted, on the verge of fainting at any moment.

“I can’t do it anymore,” he said, getting up and stumbling toward the exit.

Lin Quan’s voice was sharp. “Who gave you permission to leave?”

Lin Jing froze. Being reprimanded by the head of the family, his eyes immediately welled up with tears.

“I’m sorry, but it’s really unbearable.”

Only when an omega showed signs of going into shock did Lin Quan have the alpha stop. The ventilation system quickly cleared the air of the pheromones.

Lin Quan’s gaze fell on Ji Ruo in the corner. From beginning to end, he had been sitting there quietly, showing no reaction at all.

“You don’t feel sick?” Lin Quan asked.

Ji Ruo looked at the open book in front of him and said calmly, “I didn’t smell anything, and I don’t feel anything.”

Lin Quan frowned and glanced at the substitute teacher.

The teacher understood and leaned in to whisper in Lin Quan’s ear, “That child’s gland development was tested last month and found to be delayed. It’s been stuck at an eight-year-old’s level for several years.”

“You couldn’t handle it, A-Ruo, hahaha,” Ji Ling said smugly. “I smelled it, but I don’t feel sick at all!”

Lin Quan’s attention shifted to him. He patted Ji Ling’s head. “You are the most outstanding one among them all.”

At such praise, Ji Ling grew even more proud, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

Once the others had recovered, Lin Quan looked at them. “For the next week, you will learn to adapt to alpha pheromones. Those who fail to meet the requirements will be punished.”

“It’s too hard!”

“I-I can’t do it.”

Of the seven children in the room, everyone except Ji Ling and Ji Ruo was complaining softly.

Lin Quan slammed his palm on the lectern. “Why can A-Ling do it but you can’t?” he roared.

The classroom instantly fell silent. No one dared to speak.

Lin Quan’s expression softened slightly as he reassured them, “You are the children I value most. Do not disappoint me.”

The boys were simple-minded and were easily placated by his words.

To be valued by the head of the Lin family, that was something to be incredibly proud of!

Lin Jing stood up excitedly. “I will definitely work hard not to disappoint you!”

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

“For the protection of omegas, let’s do our best!”

Ji Ruo watched them, feeling that something was strange.

---

On the way back, Ji Ruo asked Ji Ling, “Have you been seeing him recently?”

“Shh!” Ji Ling made a hushing gesture, pulling him quickly back to their room and shutting the door.

“Grandpa Lin is amazing! He knows everything!” Ji Ling’s eyes sparkled. “He said I have great potential and that with proper training, I can definitely become a very powerful omega.”

Ji Ruo: “And so what?”

Ji Ling said happily, “Then I can help Father!”

Ji Ruo: “Help Father?”

“Mhm!” Ji Ling pulled him to sit on a stool, face to face. “Father has been working day and night on a medicine that can strengthen omega pheromones. As long as omegas aren’t affected by alpha pheromones, not so many of them will be bullied.”

The Omega Rights Protection Plan that Lin Quan spoke of was to inject omegas with an experimental drug to increase their pheromone strength, allowing them to resist alpha pheromones.

Ji Ling said gleefully, “Last time, didn’t I overhear Father saying we were experimental subjects? It seems I misunderstood. Father has high hopes for us.”

Ji Ruo frowned. He didn’t know what felt off, or rather, everything felt off.

“You trust that man with the surname Lin so much?” Ji Ruo said with concern. “I don’t think this is that simple.”

After sharing for so long, only to have his brother be unenthusiastic and raise doubts, Ji Ling pouted, displeased.

“He’s been sponsoring Father for so many years, he must be reliable. Besides, he said all fathers in the world like exceptional children. As long as we meet his requirements and do our best, Father will definitely be very happy!”

Ji Ruo’s frown deepened. “But—”

“Oh, stop with the ‘buts’,” Ji Ling interrupted, annoyed. “I finally found a way to get closer to Father. Don’t you pour cold water on me.”

---

For the next while, they had to undergo two hours of alpha pheromone adaptation training every day. The already short three-hour school day was cut down to just one hour.

After spacing out in the training room for two days, Ji Ruo started bringing his textbooks in on the third day. While others were screaming under the stimulation of alpha pheromones, he sat in a corner doing his homework.

On the fourth day, they received their first injection of a pheromone enhancer.

That day, everyone successfully endured the two hours.

They thought that would be the end of it, but the next day, they were faced with a different alpha, one with even stronger pheromones. Someone was stimulated to the point of fainting, their head hitting the floor.

Throughout this process, Ji Ling and Ji Ruo remained unaffected.

Ji Ruo was taken for several physical examinations, but the data was always the same; there was no change at all.

“There’s absolutely no fluctuation in his pheromone levels.”

A subordinate reported to Lin Quan, “In contrast, Ji Ling’s pheromone levels are very stable. Even when stimulated by alpha pheromones, there’s almost no fluctuation.”

Lin Quan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

“Ji Ruo’s glands haven’t shown any signs of development in the last six months?”

The subordinate shook his head. “They completely stagnated after he turned eight. Our people asked Ji Ming, but couldn’t get anything out of him.”

Lin Quan was thoughtful. “He might be a defective product.”

“No wonder he created two children,” the subordinate said in a low voice. “If one fails, at least there’s another.”

Lin Quan: “Haven’t you gotten the genetic modification data yet?”

The subordinate shook his head. “We’ve tried everything. Ji Ming just won’t talk, and he refuses to do it again.”

After a moment of thought, Lin Quan said, “Don’t push him too hard for now. Keep a close watch on Ji Ling.”

An omega unaffected by alpha pheromones, if trained into an assassin, would be terrifyingly lethal.

The subordinate: “Yes, sir!”

---

Half a year passed in a flash. Ji Ruo had come to treat the daily adaptation training as a study session, and gradually, no one paid him any mind.

Ji Ling, however, was the complete opposite.

Once it was confirmed that ordinary alpha pheromones had no effect on him, he was taken to another training room for special training, facing alphas with higher-level pheromones.

After each session, he would have to lean on the wall just to walk out of the training room, needing Ji Ruo to help him back to rest.

“This is too much of a burden on your body.” Ji Ruo’s brows furrowed as he looked at the dense needle marks on his brother’s arm, his worry unconcealed. “Shouldn’t you take a break for a while?”

“I’ll be fine after a night’s rest,” Ji Ling said nonchalantly. “It’s been half a year already. I need to adapt as quickly as possible.”

But the intensity you’re adapting to now is far beyond the normal range.

Why would an ordinary omega need to adapt to the pheromones of dozens of high-aptitude alphas? This kind of training made Ji Ruo think of some very bad possibilities.

Seeing Ji Ruo’s worried expression, Ji Ling smiled at him, his voice weak. “Don’t worry, I’m very strong.”

Ji Ruo let out a humorless laugh. “You’d better be.”

The brothers’ laughter echoed down the metal corridor as usual.

The next day, Lin Quan came to the base to inspect their training progress.

The weakest among them could now adapt to the pheromones of an ordinary alpha soldier. Ji Ruo was a special case; no matter what kind of alpha released their pheromones, he couldn’t smell them and felt nothing.

After the inspection, Lin Quan went to Ji Ling’s training room.

Today, Ji Ling had to face the pheromones of twenty alpha soldiers.

Through the glass, Lin Quan saw Ji Ling drenched in sweat, curled up in a corner, his arms covered in scratches he had inflicted on himself. He was shaking his head continuously, his expression dazed. He looked like he had reached his limit.

“That’s enough for now, have them stop—”

Just as Lin Quan was about to order them to stop releasing their pheromones, the control screen outside the training room detected omega pheromones.

Simultaneously, all the alpha soldiers inside the training room fell to their knees.

Lin Quan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

What’s happening?!

The omega’s pheromones suppressed the alphas?!

__

Author’s Note:

Rong Bunny: Eating melon in the front row.
Song Cat: A milk tea, please, extra sweet.
Rong Bunny: What milk tea? Look at your little belly.
Song Cat: …