99% Match, But He Smells Like My Ex-Boss - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Matching Center’s white walls were as cold as a hospital’s.

I sat in the glass booth, palms sweating.

The staff member slid the report across the table.

“Congratulations, Ms. Song Zhi.”

“Your pheromone compatibility with Mr. Shen Yanci is 99%.”

I looked at that number.

99.

High enough to make social news.

In this era, a pheromone match over 85% was considered a good match, and over 95% would put you on a special protection list.

99% meant that if both parties agreed, the civil affairs bureau could open a green channel for us on the spot.

I should have been happy.

After all, I’d just been warned by the doctor: long-term use of suppressants had caused scent gland disorder. Without a stable source of comfort, my next heat might send me straight to the ER.

But the moment I smelled his scent, my first instinct was to flee.

Fir, post-snow woody notes, with a faint bitterness.

Exactly like Lu Zhiheng.

Lu Zhiheng, my former boss.

He was the nightmare of my career.

Three years ago, I joined Qingyao Technology as a product manager.

Lu Zhiheng was the founder, a legendary top Alpha: cold, aggressive, ruthless.

He would call me at 2 a.m. to ask about user retention.

He would throw back a plan I’d worked on for three days with just “Redo it.”

And the day before my heat, he transferred me to a closed-door project team.

In the end, I was publicly reprimanded for a project accident.

Lu Zhiheng personally signed the termination notice.

The day I left, he stood at the office door.

I asked him, “President Lu, what did I do wrong?”

He said, “Song Zhi, you’re not suited for this place.”

I carried those words and hated him for two years.

Now, the Matching Center tells me that my destined Alpha smells like him.

Shen Yanci looked at me.

“You look terrible.”

I put the report away.

“Smelled my ex-boss. Bad luck.”

The staff member coughed awkwardly.

But Shen Yanci didn’t get angry.

He just frowned slightly.

“What’s your ex-boss’s name?”

I sneered.

“Why, Mr. Shen, do you want to apologize for him?”

He was silent for a second.

“If necessary.”

I stood up.

“Not necessary.”

“I’ll apply for a review of the match report. That’s all for today.”

The staff member grew anxious.

“Ms. Song, a 99% match is extremely rare. A review won’t change the results.”

I looked back.

“Then check if your machine is broken.”