Chapter 1: That Member of the Xie Family Is Coming to Our House Today to ‘Choose’

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“Enigma is the seventh gender to appear after human evolution. It exists beyond the traditional male and female genders. Scientists discovered this gender more than twenty years ago. Because their numbers are so few, research on Enigma has progressed very slowly. Currently, there is no concrete data showing how many Enigma exist in today’s society.”

“They usually look a lot like Alphas. Some Enigma can even disguise their pheromones to mimic Omegas. But there is no doubt that Enigma are more dangerous than Alphas. Their pheromones are more likely to go out of control. It is possible that every day they are on the edge of losing control.”

In the large lecture hall at Z University, a middle-aged professor wearing glasses was sharing knowledge about Enigma.

A student sitting in the corner raised their hand. “Professor Dai, why do most Enigma hide their true gender?”

The professor adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “We all know that the higher the level of pheromones, the more likely it is to lose control and to develop various psychological issues. Currently, the pheromone levels of Enigma cannot be measured accurately with instruments. Instruments can only show the range of pheromone levels, not the exact gender. Enigma can only recognize their difference from others themselves. Due to this special condition, most Enigma have some degree of psychological issues. Hiding their gender is their way of protecting themselves. After all, nobody wants to face social discrimination because of these issues.”

After answering the student’s question, the class bell rang.

Professor Dai smiled and said kindly, “But don’t worry. There are already medications that can physically control different degrees of pheromone loss of control. These drugs work for Enigma as well. As for the individual and social psychological issues caused by gender differences, that will be for future generations to help resolve.”

After a call of “Class dismissed,” students began to stand and filed out of the classroom.

At the back, Shen Shuyi was slowly packing his books when someone called out, “Shuyi!”

It was Shen Shuyi’s classmate Qiao Wan. “The group assignment Professor Dai assigned is finally done. We have to thank you for staying up all night alone to finish it for us. Lin Shen said he wanted to invite everyone to dinner to celebrate and specifically said you had to come. Do you want to join us?”

Shen Shuyi stacked his books neatly one by one and put them into his bag slowly. “No,” he said after a moment’s thought. “I have something to do at home tonight, so I won’t join you.”

Shen Shuyi was always independent at school, but he was not antisocial. He had good relationships with his classmates, treated people kindly, and remained emotionally steady. Everyone liked being around him.

As for his appearance, it was excellent, among the best in the school. He had dark brown hair, slightly blue-tinted eyes, and a slightly mixed-race look. He was tall with fair skin, even better looking than many Omegas Qiao Wan had seen.

Yet strangely, Shen Shuyi had a presence that made him blend into the crowd. Few noticed him at first glance.

Qiao Wan attributed it to gender.

Being Beta meant being ordinary. Without pheromones to give him an advantage, it was normal for him not to attract attention from Alphas or Omegas with strong social status.

“Really can’t come?” Qiao Wan asked one last time. “We all want you there, especially Lin Shen. He’s been saying in the group chat that after finishing the assignment he wants to invite you, and so do the rest of us.”

“Really can’t,” Shen Shuyi said apologetically. “Important guests are coming to my house, and everyone must be present.”

“Alright…” Qiao Wan sounded disappointed.

She knew Shen Shuyi was from the Shen family, one of the big families in H City. Everyone locally knew his older siblings were very impressive. His third older brother was a hot celebrity. Young people practically all knew him, and Qiao Wan was even a fan.

“Will you be able to meet Shen Shuhan this time?” Qiao Wan’s eyes lit up. “Could you ask him for an autograph for me?”

Shen Shuyi smiled faintly. “Sure, if he’s not busy, I’ll try.”

“Yay!” Qiao Wan cheered and forgot about the group’s other tasks. “Be careful on the way. I’ll go back to the dorm to change and get ready for the dinner.”

“Okay,” Shen Shuyi said, nodding slowly. He followed the edge of the aisle and left the classroom through the back door.

He didn’t have a driver pick him up, so he took a car back to the Shen residence.

Entering the mansion, the servants were busy, and nobody noticed him. Shen Shuyi took the elevator upstairs.

His room was in the top-floor attic, smaller than his siblings’ rooms. The semi-sunroom made it very hot in summer, but Shen Shuyi liked it. Except for storage rooms and his room, no one else came up often. Only servants occasionally cleaned.

He stayed in his room until six o’clock, then changed into formal clothes and went downstairs.

By this time, everyone at home should have arrived. The elevator was constantly occupied, so taking the stairs was faster.

Downstairs, the banquet hall was crowded. Even the servants were more numerous than usual. Shen Shuyi had never seen such a scene. He quietly took a glass of juice and moved to a corner.

He was wearing a white formal suit, custom-made for his high school adult ceremony. The suit fit his slim frame, the jacket highlighting his waist, and the trousers subtly shaping his legs. He was tall enough among the guests but went largely unnoticed.

After a while, he heard his third brother’s voice. “How can the Shen family produce a Beta like you? Didn’t you see your second sister and younger brother hosting the guests?”

Shen Shuyi looked toward the center of the banquet hall.

Sure enough, his second sister wore a stunning fitted dress with diamonds along the hem. Every turn made her seem radiant.

His younger brother, sixteen and an Omega with a high pheromone level, had displayed incredible intelligence from an early age. He skipped two grades in middle school and had been accepted early by the top Omega academy nationwide. His dream was to marry a top Alpha and be cared for at home as a beautiful spouse.

Shen Shuyi didn’t understand this wish but respected it.

His third brother was also an Omega but uninterested in marriage. His older siblings were Alphas. The second sister was a fiery scientist and rarely home. The eldest brother worked at the family company to eventually inherit their father’s position.

Shen Shuyi’s mother had passed away shortly after giving birth to him. Only Shen Shuhan and Shen Shuyi shared both parents, though Shen Shuhan looked down on him for being timid, ordinary in gender and personality, and unremarkable in academics.

“Today important guests are coming.” Shen Shuhan, who didn’t enjoy socializing, stood next to Shen Shuyi with a cocktail specially made for Omega guests.

Simply standing there, he drew attention. Guests flocked to him for greetings and autographs. Shen Shuyi was pushed to the outer corner.

Fortunately, he didn’t mind and took the time to grab some food from the buffet.

After finishing his third piece of cake, Shen Shuhan returned to Shen Shuyi’s side, refusing further greetings or autographs.

“You know, right?” Shen Shuhan continued. “The head of the Xie family is coming today to our house to choose a wife.”

He smiled mockingly. Shen Shuhan was handsome, with delicate features and the soft, seductive aura typical of an Omega. Like his second sister, he had dressed up carefully today.

“People say I’m the most suitable to marry him,” Shen Shuhan said with a sneer. “I won’t. If not, the fifth brother would marry him. Omegas reach legal marriage age at eighteen. Xie just needs to wait two more years to marry the fifth brother.”

He sipped his drink elegantly. “That is the fifth brother’s lifelong dream: to marry a top Alpha with strong pheromones.”

Suddenly, there was a stir outside the banquet hall.

“A top Alpha?” Shen Shuyi asked slowly. “Is Xie’s pheromone SSS+ level?”

“Of course,” Shen Shuhan said with a hint of admiration, though he disapproved of Xie coming to choose a wife. “Few Alphas have SSS+ pheromones. Most Omegas with lower levels cannot match him. Low pheromone compatibility affects marriage quality.”

“My pheromones are SSS level, so compatibility is not a problem. But I don’t want to marry. Today, the Shen family is full of Omegas. Relatives brought all eligible Omegas hoping for a chance, but how many Omegas in the Shen family have such high pheromones?” He said proudly.

Shen Shuyi did not understand his brother’s intention.

When the important guest arrived, Shen Shuyi stood on the outskirts of the crowd, seeing a tall, imposing man enter the banquet hall and move to the center.

Many people approached him, including Shen Shuyi’s father and stepmother with the fifth brother.

Shen Shuyi was too far away to see clearly, but from the moment the man entered, he faintly felt a gaze from the center of the crowd directed at him.

Not at the more eye-catching Shen Shuhan. Not at other dressed-up Omegas. But clearly and unmistakably, at him.

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Translator note: 📌

Thank you for reading 💖 see you again in the next chapter, my lovely cherries 😘