PM Chapter 7

最佳契合 (Perfect Match) – 十九瑶

Chapter 7

　　Yuanjiang City was on a higher latitude. It began to snow lightly in November, but by December, it had become a real winter storm. As Christmas got closer, white flakes started to spin and make sharp, turbulent motions in the wind. It was freezing, but the cold only made the holiday spirit even stronger.

Bright lights illuminated the central commercial area for miles, changing and switching without interruption. In the shopping malls, huge Christmas trees stood over the atriums on the ground floor. Their branches were weighed down with red and white gift boxes, gold and silver bows, and socks. Display windows displayed new trench coats and towering boots, with lighting angled to emphasize them and price tags flaunting their numbers.

The new Christmas movie, Race to the South, was playing in theaters. The movie got excellent reviews, and many people went to see it. Even the dust in the air seemed to smell like popcorn and honey cream puffs. Female omegas in thick wool skirts and snow boots held cinema tickets, flashing peace signs beneath big posters, and posed for pictures with their favorite celebrities.

All of it—the laughing, the warmth, the noise—was filmed, along with some amusing comments, and made into an evening show that plays in a quiet rental apartment in the western suburbs.

A thirty-inch television flashed in front of a wood dining table. The table was empty and plain, with only a bowl of white rice, a dish of steaming egg pudding, and a few prescription bottles scattered around.

He An was in the kitchen, taking one spoonful at a time of meat broth from the pot.

From the living room, the host’s familiar, overly excited voice came through, “As everyone knows, before Xie Yan took on Race to the South, he had a remarkable career, with hit after hit for three years straight. His transition from a sad, pretty boy to a motivated young actor was a big success. And just a few days ago, at the movie’s premiere, Xie Yan said yes when his boyfriend asked him to marry him. This mysterious alpha is actually the bodyguard who’s been with him for more than two years and wears sunglasses, just as many rumors have said…”

He An quietly finished putting the soup in the bowls and then replaced the lid. He looked up at the light on the range hood and then put one hand on the counter to balance himself. He got to his toes, being mindful not to let his belly touch the cold surface, and turned off the light.

The host’s gossip-filled chatter went on, “Xie Yan’s agent says he has said no to almost all film offers next year. Does this mean he’s getting ready to have a lovely baby during his heat? It’s said that his pheromone compatibility with his partner is an outstanding 89%! A match made in heaven—and one slip-up may lead to a little Xie Yan!”

He An smiled a little. He brought the soup to the table and put it next to the egg pudding. Then, he untied his shirt and carefully sat down.

He was nearly nine months along in his pregnancy. An enormous and heavy weight was pressing down on his body as his belly grew. His legs had been having trouble with blood flow for months because he didn’t have anyone to massage him. The swelling never went away completely, and even walking was difficult.

He had a pheromone imbalance, which was even worse.

For nine months, the baby had been restless without an alpha by his side. As it got bigger, it became more unstable. It was restless every day, twisting and turning, and it caused him to have terrible stomach pain that almost made him go into labor early. He went to a small clinic in the western suburbs and bought a lot of pheromone substitute medicines. While they were helpful, it was barely enough. The vertigo and exhaustion were much worse. Some days, he was so disoriented that he had to stay in bed all day.

But there was still a whole month to go. He could overcome it if he just hung on for a bit longer.

Imagining the baby’s little, delicate face helped ease the discomfort significantly. He grabbed a bottle of pregnancy nutrition powder, took off the lid, and poured it into the soup.

The entertainment show went on and cut to a press conference. The flashbulbs flashed nonstop. Xie Yan, who was successful in both love and his job, stood in front of the cameras with his fiancé. Blessings flowed in from every direction. His smile was really stunning, and his pale skin turned a subtle shade of pink. His eyes formed crescents as he smiled.

Some of the usual questions—When is the wedding? Who is invited? Will you retire to have children?—an urgent voice cuts in:

“Xie Yan, there are reports that three years ago you were romantically involved with Zheng Feiluan, CEO of Jiusheng Group. Did Mr. Zheng personally offer his congratulations after your engagement?”

The mention of “Zheng Feiluan” immediately caused Xie Yan’s eyes to change. When the question was over, the mood turned cold as ice.

He An was unable to keep hold of the soup spoon. It fell into the bowl, splashing red soup on his sleeve.

Looking down at the stain, he smiled bitterly and asked himself:
He An, why are you freaking out? What are you so concerned about? You’ve been aware of Xie Yan and Zheng Feiluan for quite some time. So why does your hand still shake when you hear that name?

Some drops of very hot soup splashed on the back of his hand.

He carefully lifted it, sucking the liquid out with his lips.

After a short, awkward silence, Xie Yan got his act together and went back to being a professional actor. He said with a smile that made him look a little weak, “I’ve explained this a lot of times already. I’m just a regular acquaintance of Mr. Zheng’s. Because he really admired my talent, he helped me out a lot when I was just starting out. But romantically, he and I—”

Out of nowhere, his fiancé grabbed the microphone. He said coldly, “There was no congratulation, and none was necessary. Next question.”

The fiancé was openly angry, which only proved that something had happened between Xie Yan and Zheng Feiluan. The reporters were about to press the issue further when the alpha’s possessive aggression silenced them. The scene got very uncomfortable, but one reporter quickly told a joke to change the subject.

He An couldn’t watch any longer.

He turned off the TV, ate the rest of his dinner by himself in the small dining area, cleared the table, washed the dishes, threw his clothes with stains on them into the washing machine, and then lay down on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket.

There was no other person in the apartment. Silence lingered heavy in the air. Only one lamp lit the furniture, forming shadows in the corners. The heating was poor. Being pregnant had made him quite sensitive to cold. He wrapped the blanket tightly about his shoulders and cuddled in.

⋮

　　Over the past two months, He An had made his home in this rental in the western suburbs.

The western parts were Yuanjiang’s rural area. They were twenty-five kilometers from downtown and next to another province. It was more than an hour on the train. Just like an artery far from the heart, only a little bit of the city’s glamour made it here. The trends were months behind. If it hadn’t been for the occasional store sign with the words “Yuanjiang City,” He An would’ve forgotten he was even in that city.

Just two months ago, on the day the agreement was signed, Cheng Xiu found another omega who was six months pregnant through his connections. The omega had no means to support a child, let alone pay for an abortion. He An registered using his own ID, which allowed the other omega to take his place in the operating room.

They fooled the doctor that Zheng Feiluan had arranged thanks to their smooth coordination.

After that, He An quit his job at the pet store and rented this little, bright apartment in the suburbs, which was far away from the city.

He picked a ground-floor unit because it was more convenient. He would only have to go up half a flight of stairs, and slow walks outside wouldn’t tire him out.

Every weekend, Cheng Xiu came over and brought fruit, veggies, vitamins, baby formula, and breathable diapers that filled up a whole cabinet. He had taken He An to a pregnancy visit last week and suggested that he find out the baby’s gender. He An refused, wanting to keep the surprise. He only gave the baby a nickname: Linglan.

That was the scent of He An’s pheromones¹Linglan is a flower that is formally called Lily of the Valley.—faint, only detectable up close.

Cheng Xiu, an ordinary beta, used to be jealous of omegas because of their natural “perfume.” But when he realized how much it cost, he was forever grateful to be a beta.

Pheromones controlled omegas like slaves. Even after being terribly hurt, they couldn’t control the love they poured out.

He An still loved Zheng Feiluan, and Cheng Xiu knew it.

He never talked about it directly, but it was clear that he did. He An had learned to like hot chocolate. The logo of that coffee shop was on his favorite mug. He An’s poetry book contained Zheng Feiluan’s handwritten agreement, which had managed to evade the shredder. The paper was hidden inside, with the blank side facing out. The coffee table was littered with piles of business magazines, each featuring an interview with Zheng Feiluan—a picture of manly sophistication with a piercing gaze and an aura of alpha pheromones that seemed like it could melt the glossy pages.

In October of that year, Jiusheng’s twenty-eighth five-star hotel opened to the public within the country, while the construction of its beach resort in Europe formally began. Zheng Feiluan became a media sensation because he was Jiusheng’s acting president. His face was all over the news and in print, and his name was followed by a lot of praise that showed off how well every writer could write.

His personal life, next to his career, became a center of the public’s attention.

29 years old. Accomplished. Very authoritative. Highly respected in 29 cities. Waiting for the omega who is a good match for him.

Seeing those words in print made everyone’s hearts race.

Zheng Feiluan always stayed away from personal questions, but reporters never gave up. Financial statistics was hard to read and boring, but romance was exciting and easy to understand. Even the most serious business interviews would attempt to slip in a few questions.

This time, Zheng Feiluan didn’t disappoint.

He said more than once that he was still single and not dating anyone. When asked about his standards for a relationship, he calmly stated that he would never let pheromones dictate his decision because it was a serious matter including both logic and emotion. He even joked that any omega who thinks they can marry for money just by using pheromones should look for someone else.

He An bought every magazine that featured him. He read every hurtful word. He didn’t throw them away; he just used a black marker to cross out the most cruel lines.

But some things couldn’t be covered entirely.

Like the oversized photos in gossip magazines.

Business magazines played fair, but tabloids didn’t. Reporters covering the entertainment industry scoured the internet for blurry and clear paparazzi photos taken three years ago and posted them all over the place. The unknown young actor on Zheng Feiluan’s side at the time was none other than today’s biggest name, Xie Yan.

Media flocked to Xie Yan. He denied it. They crowded Zheng Feiluan. He sneered.

Neither side said anything. Everything that happened three years ago, both love and hate, is now a hidden, obvious secret on screen. He An was jealous and lost sleep night after night—but he also envied Xie Yan. Envied him for being an omega who could openly deny the relationship while keeping his dignity.

Not like him.

He had begged to stay—but was pushed away.

He An’s emotions were so mixed up that he couldn’t tell what he wanted anymore: for Zheng Feiluan to fall in love with him again, or to finally be able to cut ties with his shameful and hopeless love and say what Xie Yan did—

“I have nothing to do with him.”

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Translated and edited by janemoyu (09/04/25)

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  Linglan is a flower that is formally called Lily of the Valley.