25

When Pei Yujang heard this, her hands instinctively left the keyboard, and her mind blanked out for a few seconds.

Last night had been a bit chaotic, and by the end, all she could think about was coaxing Yu Zhiwan to sleep. She couldn't even remember if she had actually called Yu Zhiwan "wife."

Those two words shouldn't be said lightly, and once said, they shouldn't be taken back. After considering it, she feared that if she had said it in her confusion and now denied it, Yu Zhiwan might get angry. It seemed safer to just go along with it.

Pei Yujang mumbled an ambiguous "Uh-huh," trying to brush it off.

But Yu Zhiwan, elongating her tone, teased, "Did you really? I was just joking."

Pei Yujang: "..."

After a moment, when she finally realized that Yu Zhiwan was teasing her, Pei Yujang furiously pounded the last word into the keyboard and hit enter.

Yu Zhiwan, beside her, burst into laughter.

After safely making it through the night of her heat, Yu Zhiwan seemed to be in a much better mood, her complexion glowing. Many Omegas marry young, primarily because an Alpha can help them during their heat, providing mutual comfort and support through that period.

However, Omegas who marry young often face the inevitability of pregnancy. While Omega bodies are well-suited for childbearing, someone like Yu Zhiwan, who is paralyzed from the waist down, may be able to conceive but isn't suited for carrying a pregnancy to term.

Pei Yujang preferred seeing Yu Zhiwan looking radiant and full of life rather than settling into the role of a young mother, dedicating her life to the next generation.

When Pei Yujang requested to buy trending search terms, the head of the marketing department at Yuerong was a bit apprehensive, even calling her to discuss it.

He was worried that this might entangle Yuerong in something that could make it difficult for them to continue operations in Yicheng, subtly suggesting that Pei Yujang's actions were a case of youthful impulsiveness and heroism.

Listening to the department head's grumbling over the phone, Pei Yujang packed her luggage while yelling into the speakerphone, "If you're so eager to hide your head in the sand, then either resign or wait for the floodwaters to submerge your office so you can swim in it!"

Her sharp retort left the department head speechless.

He certainly wouldn't resign, but if he wanted to keep his job at Yuerong, he knew better than to go against the eldest Miss Pei. Pei Jinhuai would be the first to object. The marketing head was merely cautious and wanted to put Pei Yujang in her place, but her fiery response left him completely defeated.

She wasn't doing anything wrong, and she wasn't hiding anything from Yu Zhiwan either.

Yu Zhiwan was aware of Pei Yujang's plan and was willing to go home with her.

By now, the water had already accumulated in the residential area, but the drainage system was still working well, so it wasn't too deep, and they could still drive out. However, with this kind of rain continuing for a few more days, who knew what would happen? To be safe, Pei Yujang planned to leave now.

When the property management noticed someone leaving, they quickly called Pei Yujang. She showed them the emergency pass that Pei Jinhuai had obtained for her, and they finally let her out at the gate.

Naturally, the Pei family villa was not far from there, just a few kilometers by car. The dangerous sections of the road were already cordoned off, and the area was at a relatively high elevation, so the flooding had minimal impact, which is why Pei Jinhuai felt safe letting her drive over.

The rain battered against the car windows, making the outside world look like a gray haze. Pei Yujang decided to switch to autopilot and let the AI drive. The advanced AI could assess the real-time environment and road conditions, avoiding the heavily flooded areas.

A drive that normally took fifteen minutes now stretched to almost an hour.

The underground garage in the villa area was waterproof and sealed, with a drainage system far superior to that of the smaller community Pei Yujang had previously stayed in. She pulled into her family's garage, but the sound of the torrential rain outside dampened her spirits.

Though she was safe at home and even if Yicheng was submerged again, this area was one of the most flood-resistant, she couldn't help but worry about those living near the dikes who couldn't evacuate, left to the mercy of fate and government arrangements.

If she were in charge of Yicheng, she would have already arranged new accommodations for the residents near the dikes, perhaps evacuating them to a neighboring city. What if Yihu Lake overflowed? The damage would be catastrophic. Were the local leaders really so blind, or were they just shirking responsibility?

When Pei Yujang entered the house, none of the things she feared happened. Pei Jinhuai, though curious, didn't pry and greeted Yu Zhiwan politely.

Jiang Wenxiu, under Fan Zhaozhao's supervision, didn't say anything out of line and just sat on the couch playing games.

Pei Jinhuai had the housekeeper cut some fruit for them and brought out some desserts from the fridge, standing by the window with a worried expression as she watched the downpour outside. The entire world seemed to have turned into a gray blur, with the rain obscuring all boundaries.

Pei Jinhuai wasn't overly concerned about the welfare of the nation. Having lived in this city for so long, she knew that a flood disaster happened every year, unavoidable.

Most of Yicheng's residents didn't realize that this year's flood would be more devastating than any they had seen before. They simply thought it was the usual annual disaster, nothing to worry about, except that the product exhibition might be canceled.

Could it be that Yuerong's lucky streak, after all these years, was finally coming to an end, and the company would slowly fade away?

Pei Jinhuai pondered this silently, feeling a pang of sadness. She took a sip of tea and then asked Pei Yujang, "You've been to the dikes recently. Do you know how long the heavy rain is expected to last? If the flood does break out, our shipments will be delayed even further. We might not be able to participate in the exhibition, and we'll have trouble fulfilling orders. If people cancel, it'll be a nightmare."

Yuerong wasn't the only big player in the domestic beauty industry; there were plenty of other options out there. And it wasn't just their region that was affected by the disaster.

If people grew impatient and canceled their orders to buy from other companies that could deliver within a day or two, Yuerong would end up with an inventory surplus.

This quarter would be a write-off, and if they couldn't produce a hit product next quarter, they might really lose out to those newer, trendier brands. Although unhappy, Pei Jinhuai knew there was no other way.

"I've been listening to the rain outside. It sounds pretty heavy, so it might last a while. With all this rain, work will probably be disrupted for days. We might as well start planning next season's new products."

Pei Yujang was about to respond when someone beside her spoke up.

The woman in the wheelchair remained as elegant and composed as ever, a stark contrast to her demeanor the previous night. In front of Pei Jinhuai, Yu Zhiwan was just a well-mannered model. Pei Jinhuai knew that the girl was blind and disabled, which made her feel a bit sympathetic. Hearing what she said, Pei Jinhuai nodded.

But then Yu Zhiwan continued,

"Our brand is well-known now, but we can't keep relying on old successes. The products that were once cutting-edge have been surpassed, and many competitors are already copying them. We're no longer the market leader. Other companies might even band together to drive down prices, leaving our products to languish on the shelves."

What she said was true. Pei Jinhuai had developed a new product many years ago, transforming Yuerong from an average company into a household name. Unfortunately, the good times didn't last. The product was too easy to replicate.

It was a technique she had learned abroad and then adapted to better suit local consumers. But Pei Jinhuai herself wasn't that strong in product design.

Other companies following the trend weren't committing any legal infringement; after all, the technique wasn't exclusively hers. Gradually, the market squeezed them out.

Already in a bad mood, Pei Jinhuai was even less pleased to hear Yu Zhiwan say this. But because Yu Zhiwan was someone Pei Yujang seemed interested in, she held her temper and gave a perfunctory "Hmm."

"Have you ever considered using traditional methods?"

"Traditional methods?"

Pei Jinhuai raised an eyebrow.

Everyone has a natural desire for beauty. Women have been using cosmetics like rouge and eyebrow pencils for many years, but those products have been largely forgotten over time.

Some companies still occasionally produce them, but they're not very popular.

The main issue is that few can fully replicate the craftsmanship of ancient times. Modern consumers also aren't used to traditional products, so a combination of modern and ancient techniques is needed. But this requires skill that no one has yet mastered. It's time-consuming and labor-intensive, so most companies avoid it, only making limited-edition products to give consumers a taste of something different.

"I've seen other companies' data. Qingtian launched a spring limited edition retro collection, and it sold pretty well." Pei Yujang chimed in. "The bestsellers were the lipstick and eyeshadow palettes. People seem to prefer modern foundations and cushions, but they like small, portable, and beautifully designed lipsticks they can show off."

"Modern people are more health-conscious. Peach blossom can brighten the complexion and make for a good rouge, derived from natural ingredients and combined with modern technology. Young women, in particular, might find this new and exciting."

Pei Yujang didn't know much about cosmetics, as she rarely wore makeup. But after arriving in this era, she began exploring. Still, she didn't expect that Yu Zhiwan, a blind girl, would be so knowledgeable.

Yu Zhiwan usually went makeup-free unless she was modeling for beauty products, but her simple yet sophisticated style revealed her exceptional taste.

Peach blossom rouge is a common idea, but Yu Zhiwan's real focus was on something else—the scent.

In the ABO world, scent is like a huge periodic table, drawing many people in, unable to resist. The majority of the population, about 80%, are Betas, but they often aspire to be more than scentless, ordinary Betas.

Beta men yearn for the power and status of Alphas, while Beta women envy the Alphas and Omegas' ability to produce pheromones. Even though pheromones bring troubles, they also alter their physical makeup, giving them unique scents.

What Beta girl hasn't dreamed of becoming an A/O and releasing pheromones?

Even the world's perfumes are wildly popular, not just among Alphas and Omegas trying to mask their pheromones, but also among curious Betas who buy pheromone simulators, which mimic the scent of pheromones.

The biggest customers for beauty products are women, and if you can capture the hearts of the buyers, your company will thrive.

Scent is the most unique secret weapon in the ABO world, yet few people have thought of it.

Yu Zhiwan's explanation was concise, but as Pei Jinhuai listened, her initial displeasure turned into excitement. She wanted to shake Yu Zhiwan's hand, if only it wouldn't be inappropriate.

Why hadn't she realized before how brilliant this blind girl was, to come up with such an idea?

Actually, the idea wasn't that difficult to conceive. It's just that everyone is so immersed in this world that they tend to focus on the visual aspects of beauty products. Since Yu Zhiwan is blind, she naturally focused on the olfactory aspects.

As a business owner, Pei Jinhuai saw the potential in this new approach and was so thrilled that she wanted to immediately convene a meeting to discuss implementing it. But Pei Yujang, hearing these increasingly familiar words, suddenly remembered the original plot.

In the original story, that scumbag Liu Huanran switched companies and leaked Yuerong's trade secrets, subtly informing the new company's boss, who then cherry-picked the best ideas.

The laws in this world weren't strict about defining plagiarism, and Liu Huanran expertly played this gray area, helping her new boss gradually overtake Yuerong.

Later, Liu Huanran started her own company and pursued Yu Zhiwan again, this time bringing her on as a beauty model.

But eventually, Liu Huanran also came up with the idea of using scent to appeal to customers' olfactory aesthetics.

To be honest, while modern beauty products are constantly evolving, they're all more or less the same, with most innovations focusing on packaging rather than effectiveness. No single product could monopolize the market.

People's aesthetic senses were becoming dulled, and without something new, it would be hard to maintain interest.

A beauty product that appealed to the sense of smell burst onto the scene, captivating everyone.

Liu Huanran's new product sold out instantly, receiving rave reviews online, and countless influencers followed suit, posting reviews. She continued to release a series of new products, like scents representing the 24 solar terms or the smell of the sky, turning her beauty line into a veritable scent library.

No matter what, Liu Huanran's product line became a huge hit, leading the trend for a time. Her company's processing technology was unique, making it impossible for others to replicate.

When Pei Yujang learned about this part of the plot, she thought the scumbag still had some real talent. But now it was clear that Liu Huanran was living off her lover. This was Yu Zhiwan's idea all along, wasn't it?

Yet, at the time, Liu Huanran hadn't even mentioned Yu Zhiwan's name, taking all the credit for herself.

The plot had already deviated significantly from the book, at least this time, Yu Zhiwan had shared her idea with Pei Jinhuai.

Pei Jinhuai was someone who had been lucky in life but wasn't necessarily an outstanding entrepreneur. Apart from being overly indulgent with her daughter, she had few faults. She certainly wouldn't take advantage of a younger person.

Pei Jinhuai immediately suggested that Yu Zhiwan go through the proper channels to document her idea. If it was adopted, she would receive royalties as the designer, along with recognition.

Pei Yujang was delighted, feeling proud of Yu Zhiwan.

Pei Jinhuai was straightforward and soon called a video conference, gathering the senior management who were stuck at home to plan the next season's product line. She went into the study and invited Yu Zhiwan to join her, the two of them staying there for a long time.

Pei Jinhuai, perhaps because of her age, no longer had the same intense drive for success she had in her youth. She hadn't been this passionate about work in a long time.

Fan Zhaozhao went in to bring them some fruit, and when she came out, she gave Pei Yujang a knowing look. Pei Yujang followed her, and Fan Zhaozhao whispered with a hint of gossip:

"Xiao Yu, which school did your girlfriend graduate from?"

Pei Yujang: "?"

Her first reaction wasn't to question why Fan Zhaozhao was asking but to immediately clarify:

"She's not my girlfriend; she's my friend. I'm a Beta, and she's an Omega."

Fan Zhaozhao and Jiang Wenxiu had lived with the original Pei Yujang for a while, and it was hard to hide anything from them. Pei Yujang hadn't tried to. The whole family knew she was a Beta pretending to be an Alpha. Her meaning was clear, but she forgot that the original Pei Yujang was attracted to women, especially Omegas.

Seeing her denial, Fan Zhaozhao assumed Pei Yujang was being cautious, smiled knowingly, and didn't say anything more. Before Pei Yujang could decipher the meaning behind her smile, Fan Zhaozhao waved her off and left.

That evening, after they finished their work, the family had dinner together, and Pei Yujang noticed that Pei Jinhuai hadn't arranged for the guest room to be prepared, meaning they would have to share a room again.

The previous night's experience had thoroughly frightened Pei Yujang, so she tried explaining to Pei Jinhuai:

"She's my friend."

Pei Jinhuai nodded. "Mm-hmm, I know."

The kind of "friend" you just sleep with, she understood. Some young people these days were into that sort of thing.

Although she and Fan Zhaozhao had met through proper channels, Pei Jinhuai was open-minded enough to understand. As long as they maintained good hygiene, she had no objections. Her daughter was a Beta, so there was no risk of pregnancy from sleeping with another woman, and she wouldn't let an Omega get pregnant either, so there was no danger.

Pei Jinhuai smiled benevolently, but Pei Yujang could tell from her expression that her mother was definitely misunderstanding something.

But since Pei Jinhuai didn't believe her, there was nothing she could do to explain.

Was she supposed to tell Pei Jinhuai that she had been "bullied" by Yu Zhiwan the previous night?

Pei Yujang couldn't bring herself to say it.

The most frustrating part was that whenever she thought about the previous night, her ears would start to burn. Pei Yujang had fair, sensitive skin, and any emotional change would show on her face, making it impossible to explain the situation to Pei Jinhuai.

Pei Jinhuai gave her a knowing "I get it" look before turning and leaving.

Pei Yujang had no choice but to share a room with Yu Zhiwan again.

She didn't know if other Omegas were like this, but the one she was with seemed to enjoy cuddling during sleep, perhaps due to the lingering effects of her heat. Every night, she had to hold Yu Zhiwan in her arms before the Omega would settle down and sleep.

Pei Yujang wasn't used to sharing a room with anyone, but after a few days, she was forced to develop the habit of sleeping with someone else. Since Yu Zhiwan was also disabled, Pei Yujang had to be even more careful, worried about accidentally hurting her. Every night, she would cradle the woman in her arms and try to figure out the best position that wouldn't crush her.

In reality, she had never had to comfort an adult like this before, and whether Yu Zhiwan could fall asleep wasn't really her concern. But whenever the woman asked, Pei Yujang naturally offered her help.

Yu Zhiwan's voice was pleasant, rhythmic, and melodic. When she spoke, it always seemed justified, but without being annoying. Since it was such a small thing, Pei Yujang figured she could help out as a good deed, which made her feel more at ease.

The heavy rain in Yicheng continued for days, and eventually, the floodwaters breached the dikes at night.

However, thanks to the trending search term they had purchased earlier, the public had already been alerted to the unusual rainstorm, even sparking a minor doomsday theory.

The Federation quickly stepped in and shut down the accounts of those spreading rumors online.

But the incident also caught the attention of higher authorities.

Government officials came to inspect the situation, and the local Yicheng leaders couldn't keep it under wraps any longer. They were forced to use public funds to evacuate the residents living near the dikes to safer areas and repair the damage.

Pei Yujang followed the news at home every day, eventually realizing that the local officials had likely delayed action in hopes of embezzling public funds. Such repairs were indeed expensive.

The officials' greed was shameless, and Pei Yujang couldn't help but curse aloud while watching the news.

At that moment, Yu Zhiwan was sitting beside her, reading a Braille book by touch. Hearing Pei Yujang's outburst, she raised an eyebrow and half-jokingly asked,

"You know how to curse?"

Pei Yujang usually appeared refined in front of others, especially Yu Zhiwan. This was the first time she had cursed. She worried that Yu Zhiwan might find her vulgar and, feeling embarrassed, awkwardly scratched her nose but explained,

"I'm disgusted by corrupt officials; I couldn't help it."

Yicheng's decline over the centuries could very well be the result of such corrupt officials. As someone who had traveled from the future, Pei Yujang understood this all too well and despised those who, blessed with prosperity, sought to ruin it, dragging the common people down with them.

She was fuming with indignation, but Yu Zhiwan chuckled. Pei Yujang, puzzled, turned to ask why she was laughing. Yu Zhiwan shook her head and replied,

"Nothing, I just find you adorable."

Pei Yujang felt she was being humored.

How could cursing be considered adorable?

But if Yu Zhiwan said so, then so be it. Pei Yujang pouted, unintentionally making a childish face, and then returned to her news.

The rainstorm turned out to be worse than anyone had anticipated.

The entire city's drainage system nearly collapsed under the strain, and the rain continued for seven days and nights, only easing slightly after that, but still considered heavy rain.

During this time, getting around was only possible by boat, and some places saw price gouging for essential supplies. The government had to step in to control prices, using assault boats to deliver goods to households.

However, thanks to timely measures and support from other cities, along with the vigilance of higher authorities, the crisis passed without major incident. A month and a half later, life began to return to normal.

On the first day Yuerong resumed work, Pei Jinhuai excitedly put Yu Zhiwan's "scent theory" on the agenda, eager to get the next season's new products out as soon as possible.

Who knew when things might change again? For instance, if they hadn't already developed a plan while stuck at home, Pei Jinhuai might have found it difficult to sleep or eat in peace.

At the board meeting, Pei Jinhuai officially recorded Yu Zhiwan's name and, as a reward, generously gave her a bonus of 20,000 yuan.

In Yicheng, salaries couldn't compare to those in first-tier cities, so 20,000 yuan was a significant amount for an employee. Yu Zhiwan calmly accepted it.

During this period, Pei Yujang discovered that Yu Zhiwan had moved into the company dormitory.

Yuerong provided dormitories, but not many employees lived there. Generally, only those who needed to work overtime stayed, as the dorms were in a slightly remote area. The dormitories housed employees who lived far away or were single.

Although Yu Zhiwan had limited mobility, she insisted on staying, and Pei Yujang didn't argue, only asking if she wanted help finding an apartment.

She worried that Yu Zhiwan might feel uncomfortable staying at her house for too long or fear disturbing her.

In reality, neither Pei Jinhuai, the head of the household, nor Pei Yujang herself had any problem with Yu Zhiwan staying at their home. But perhaps out of shyness, Yu Zhiwan chose not to impose, and Pei Yujang didn't press the matter, not wanting to come off as too overbearing.

When Pei Yujang offered to help her find an apartment, Yu Zhiwan simply waved it off,

"I've already found one. I'll be moving in soon."

"You're moving out?"

During the recent rainstorm, they had stayed together, so she hadn't realized when Yu Zhiwan had found the time to look for an apartment. It seemed a bit sudden, but since Yu Zhiwan was an adult, Pei Yujang didn't want to play the overprotective guardian and ask where she was moving to.

Still, having spent some time together, Pei Yujang hoped Yu Zhiwan would invite her to see the new place. But as days passed, all she saw was the occasional glimpse of Yu Zhiwan's busy figure at the company, often not seeing her at all, leaving her to wonder where she had gone.

Though she didn't ask, Pei Yujang couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.

As the rainstorm in Yicheng finally ended, Yuerong's quarterly reports and sales figures were released, confirming that the company's performance had been declining quarter by quarter. Despite being mentally prepared, Mrs. Pei Jinhuai couldn't hide her concern.

Anyone who had worked hard to build a company from the ground up would be disheartened to see it struggle. Pei Jinhuai now pinned all her hopes on Yu Zhiwan's idea. If it didn't succeed, Yuerong might not have the energy to keep going.

Their profit margins were shrinking, and unsold inventory was already enough to give Yuerong a headache, not to mention the payroll and rent, which were significant expenses.

If they had to hire another team to help with planning, not to mention the issue of intellectual property, the cost alone would be a serious consideration. Pei Jinhuai hadn't followed the trend of other companies that immediately laid off employees in response to declining profits. She tried to hold on as long as possible.

Her employees appreciated this, but in the cutthroat business world, it wasn't the most practical approach. In the past two years, Pei Jinhuai had even started to show signs of graying, and although she maintained her appearance well, her exhaustion was hard to conceal.

However, Yu Zhiwan had given her a major assist.

During this period, several departments were working overtime, but they didn't reveal much about what they were working on. All anyone knew was that it was related to the new product line. To prevent leaks, Pei Jinhuai hadn't even told her daughter much, except that her mother and Yu Zhiwan were very busy.

Pei Yujang was also busy, reviewing the frustrating reports and helping to finalize the accounts for the last quarter.

These included travel expenses and invoices, requiring meticulous manual calculations and date verification. Seeing that Pei Yujang was willing to work hard, Pei Jinhuai, hoping to train her, had her start with these detailed tasks.

Pei Yujang found the calculations tedious, but wanting to ease her mother's worries, she gritted her teeth and spent several days working with one of Pei Jinhuai's trusted veterans, painstakingly going through the accounts. By the time she finished today's work, she felt dizzy.

To leave the building, Pei Yujang had to pass by the laboratory, where people were busy every day, usually behind closed doors. Occasionally, she would catch a whiff of a pleasant aroma, not just the typical cosmetic scent, piquing her curiosity about the new product line her mother was developing.

But since her mother hadn't told her much, Pei Yujang didn't have the habit of digging for details. This area didn't concern her, so she started to leave.

But then she heard the sound of the electronic door opening and instinctively glanced back.

Her curiosity was purely accidental, and when she saw the woman in the lab coat, she almost didn't recognize her. But there was no one else in the company who used a wheelchair except for Yu Zhiwan.

"Set an alarm for three hours. Uncover it at the right time; it should be ready by then."

Yu Zhiwan was calmly instructing the people beside her, who were listening intently and nodding along. After finishing her instructions, Yu Zhiwan politely said goodbye and waved, signaling that they could go and take a break.

Throughout the entire process, Pei Yujang had been standing in the corner, her emotions swirling but not uttering a word.

It wasn't until she saw Yu Zhiwan about to leave that Pei Yujang couldn't help but step out of the corner, adjust her employee badge, and half-jokingly, half-curiously called out,

"Yu—" She had initially intended to call her by name, but the image of the woman's confident demeanor while instructing the lab staff lingered in her mind, so she changed it at the last second to, "Teacher Yu!"

Yu Zhiwan had always shown her various sides—the clingy, adorable Omega during heat, the gentle and elegant beauty, and now, the capable and knowledgeable instructor. This was the first time Pei Yujang realized that Yu Zhiwan was involved in such matters. The Omega's slender, beautiful hands could handle lab equipment and guide others with expertise.

It was as if she had just discovered an entirely new side to the heroine.

Could it be that Yu Zhiwan wasn't just a consultant but actively participated in the product development? Or was she even the lead designer?

No matter the possibility, Pei Yujang was impressed.

An Omega as smart and capable as Yu Zhiwan marrying a scumbag like Liu Huanran would be an utter disgrace. Luckily, Yu Zhiwan hadn't let her talents go to waste.

Pei Yujang never hesitated to praise others, especially someone like the heroine who had suffered and might turn to the dark side in the future. Knowing that Yu Zhiwan couldn't see, Pei Yujang crouched down in front of the woman, bringing herself to her level.

After getting permission, Pei Yujang removed Yu Zhiwan's gloves and lightly pressed her thumb against the soft pad of the woman's finger, as if stamping a seal, while gently patting the back of her hand and sincerely praising her,

"You're amazing."

She had encountered impressive Omegas before, but someone like Yu Zhiwan, who was both intelligent and modest, was rare. With her talents, any company would be lucky to have her.

But Yu Zhiwan chose to stay and help Yuerong. Pei Yujang couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

Since crossing into this world, Pei Yujang had been adjusting, but she could feel the genuine care Pei Jinhuai had for her, or rather, for the original Pei Yujang. As she saw Pei Yujang moving in a positive direction, Pei Jinhuai's indulgence gradually turned into gentle encouragement, sincerely hoping she would become an upright person and not go down the wrong path.

Pei Yujang gently hooked her little finger around Yu Zhiwan's and softly thanked her again.

But the light words fell on Yu Zhiwan's ears, twisting in meaning. Coupled with Pei Yujang's many small gestures, Yu Zhiwan's heart softened.

Was she being coquettish with her?

Yu Zhiwan outwardly appeared to be a pure blind woman, but in truth, she could see a little. Though not entirely blind, she pretended to be, as her eyesight had deteriorated long ago.

Sometimes, she could vaguely make out shapes, which was better than most days when she could only see shadows.

For instance, right now, even though Pei Yujang was close, Yu Zhiwan could only see a blur, unable to discern her features.

She had to rely on the memory of what she had felt before and her imagination to fill in the gaps.

Pei Yujang had a face that was pleasing to her, at least to her tastes.

"I've been working with those people on some new products. They're not finished yet, but we have prototypes." Yu Zhiwan paused. "I set aside a set of lipsticks for you. Would you like them?"

She couldn't see the colors of the lipstick, so she had to rely on others to choose the shades.

Yu Zhiwan primarily focused on the process of infusing fragrance into the cosmetics and creating various scents. This technique wasn't difficult for her; with just verbal instructions and a few demonstrations, she made it clear to everyone, making her an excellent teacher in this field.

Yu Zhiwan had indeed set aside a lipstick for Pei Yujang, intending to give it to her later. But since Pei Yujang had come after her today, she decided to give it to her now.

"This is my gift to you."

It was the first time Pei Yujang had ever received lipstick as a gift.

Her former friends weren't into beauty. Even though they had a natural inclination as girls, their harsh environment forced them to give it up. General Pei, now in her twenties, was being treated as a proper young woman for the first time. When she accepted the lipstick from Yu Zhiwan, her eyes almost welled up with tears.

Not wanting to seem sentimental, she quickly shook her head and sincerely thanked Yu Zhiwan.

The lipstick was exquisitely crafted, with intricate rose patterns engraved on the bullet, emitting a delightful rose fragrance. Pei Yujang initially expected to detect a hint of raspberry along with the rose, but when she took a deep breath, she only smelled the pure scent of roses.

Yu Zhiwan, puzzled, asked,

"What are you smelling?"

Pei Yujang nearly blurted out the truth but suddenly realized that if the lipstick smelled like Yu Zhiwan's pheromones, it wouldn't be a simple lipstick but a blatant... erotic product!

She was startled by her own bizarre thoughts and, unable to answer truthfully, made up an excuse.

When the new product line was successfully completed and tested by the staff, it received widespread praise. Everyone believed it had the potential to make a significant impact in the market. Overjoyed, Pei Jinhuai gave everyone the afternoon off and even invited Fan Zhaozhao and her daughter to join them for a family dinner at the company.

Fan Zhaozhao hadn't been to the company before and hadn't revealed her relationship with President Pei to anyone except for the security and assistants. She obediently stayed in the break room, out of sight.

Jiang Wenxiu, under her mother's watchful eye, had run out of battery on her game console and was growing restless in the small break room. Taking advantage of a bathroom break, she slipped out to explore, only to stumble upon Liu Huanran blocking Yu Zhiwan in front of the restroom, looking sleazy.

After being humiliated by Yu Zhiwan last time, Liu Huanran had stewed in resentment, eventually deciding that she wanted to conquer the Omega. She had been planning to corner Yu Zhiwan for another "talk."

Recently, Yu Zhiwan had been busy with something, rarely seen around the company. Finally, Liu Huanran got her chance and attempted to pull a move straight out of a cheesy TV drama, trapping Yu Zhiwan against the wall.

Yu Zhiwan, doing her best to hide her disgust, told her to leave. But Liu Huanran, knowing that if she left now, she might not get another chance to win Yu Zhiwan back, tried to grab her hand, questioning their relationship with Pei Yujang and snidely asking if Pei Yujang had already slept with her.

Pei Yujang had just finished her last task of the day and was on her way to get some documents for Pei Jinhuai's signature when she heard a familiar voice shouting curses.

She rushed over to find Jiang Wenxiu angrily pointing at Liu Huanran, spitting out in disdain,

"I say, people like you—if an Omega isn't into you, what's with the sleazy boss act? You might be a female Alpha without a d***, but is your brain filled with an electronic d*** instead? Got so much junk in your head it's leaking oil? She's not your pet, and she's not eating your food, so why do you care who she's with?"

Pei Yujang: This smart and beautiful Omega, I must protect her!

Yu Zhiwan: What's this? A little fool? Guess I'll spoil her.