After Becoming an Alpha, I Marked My Nemesis - Chapter 17

Song Luoxue was going to jump into the river?

Song Luoxue’s assistant, Mo Zhen, knew her habits and preferences well. After Zhou Qian returned, she immediately sought out Mo Zhen to ask if Song Luoxue had been acting strangely lately.

Mo Zhen looked up thoughtfully. “Hmm… nothing particularly strange. If I had to say, Teacher Song has been refusing my help lately, insisting on doing everything herself. But that’s not unusual; she sometimes prefers to handle errands herself.”

Zhou Qian pressed further, “How long has she been acting like this?”

Mo Zhen turned to her with a slightly puzzled expression. Why is she asking me as if I’m a doctor inquiring about a patient’s symptoms?

After a moment’s thought, Mo Zhen replied, “About… I can’t quite remember. Maybe since Miss Zhou left the hospital? I’ve noticed you’ve changed a lot since then too. Your personality seems much gentler now, and you’re not as fawning over Teacher Song as before…”

Mo Zhen quickly clarified, “No, no, that’s not what I meant! I just meant you don’t cling to Teacher Song as much as you used to. But you were just starting your new drama back then, so it makes sense.”

Zhou Qian had been hoping to find something wrong with Song Luoxue, but Mo Zhen’s comment caught her off guard. She chuckled awkwardly. “Don’t be so formal. Just call me ‘Qianqian,’ like Ning Xiao does.”

Mo Zhen beamed. “Qianqian, you’re really different now.”

Zhou Qian shook her head hastily. “Nothing’s changed. I’m still the same person, whether it’s the past or the present. Maybe hitting my head made me forget some things.”

Mo Zhen replied, “Actually, that’s not a bad thing. You’re developing in a good direction. I heard Teacher Song announced your relationship to the media. Congratulations!”

Zhou Qian smiled again, but just then, a stern cough echoed behind her. “Ahem… I take my eyes off you for five minutes, and you’re already flirting?”

Seeing Song Luoxue arrive, Mo Zhen tactfully excused herself. “Sister Qianqian, you chat with Teacher Song first. I’ll be going now.”

With that, she disappeared from Zhou Qian’s sight. Song Luoxue slowly approached Zhou Qian, a hint of confusion on her face. “Qianqian? Do you let just anyone call you that?”

Zhou Qian suddenly caught a strong whiff of jealousy. Song Luoxue’s jealousy always flared up in the most unexpected places. Zhou Qian chuckled awkwardly. “It’s just like how I call you Luo Xue. I think it makes them feel less distant.”

The confusion on Song Luoxue’s face lingered. “I see… But I always thought ‘Qianqian’ was our special nickname. Hearing you say that makes me feel rather awkward.”

You’re the one feeling awkward? I’m the one who should be embarrassed! Why are you getting hung up on such a strange thing?

Zhou Qian suddenly remembered something. “Don’t you have a special nickname for me?”

“Hmm?” Song Luoxue’s confusion deepened.

Zhou Qian continued, “You know, ‘Little Kitten’? You call me that all the time. Do I really look that cat-like?”

Song Luoxue paused slightly, then chuckled, unable to contain her amusement. “Hahaha… So you thought that was my pet name for you? How adorable.”

Wait… isn’t it?

Song Luoxue looked at Zhou Qian and said, “From now on, anyone can call you that, but don’t let me hear it. I can’t guarantee what I’ll do if I do. You know how jealous I get, right?”

Zhou Qian was taken aback by her words. She knew Song Luoxue was prone to jealousy, but she hadn’t imagined it would reach this extreme.

After a long moment, Zhou Qian finally nodded obediently. “Mm-hmm… I understand.”

Seeing her so meek and submissive filled Song Luoxue with disgust. This person was wearing Zhou Qian’s face while acting this way. The real Zhou Qian would never act like this, would she? Yet this imposter was being obedient while simultaneously radiating reluctance.

Song Luoxue leaned close to Zhou Qian’s ear and whispered, “Do you know why I call you ‘kitten’?”

Zhou Qian’s ear tickled from the warm breath Song Luoxue exhaled. She instinctively took two steps back, her face showing a hint of panic. “W-why?”

Song Luoxue smiled, her gaze fixed on Zhou Qian. She reached out and pinched Zhou Qian’s chin, as if handling an object. “Because your utterly submissive and obedient demeanor reminds me of a little kitten that only knows how to please its owner.”

For some reason, Zhou Qian’s cheeks flushed crimson the moment she heard Song Luoxue’s words. She involuntarily grabbed Song Luoxue’s wrist with her other hand, her expression hardening. “What if this ‘kitten’ is merely hiding its sharp claws? If its owner provokes it too much, it might still bite.”

Song Luoxue had never anticipated such a response. She stared intently into Zhou Qian’s eyes. Zhou Qian’s grip on her wrist tightened, causing a sharp pain.

That expression is good—it really resembles her. The genuine disgust Song Luoxue had felt moments ago gradually dissipated as she gazed at Zhou Qian, a faint smile spreading across her face. “Is that so? I’m quite skilled at taming disobedient little kittens. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

Song Luoxue twisted her wrist, which Zhou Qian was gripping tightly. A red mark quickly formed around her pale, smooth wrist. Zhou Qian draped an arm over her shoulder. “How could I? Aren’t I your favorite? I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”

Upon hearing the words “aren’t I your favorite,” Song Luoxue’s eyes widened abruptly. She pushed Zhou Qian away in a panic, like a girl whose long-hidden secret had been exposed. This was the deepest secret she had concealed in her heart, a truth she had never dared to voice. Yet when these words came from Zhou Qian’s lips, they filled her with shame.

Though she knew perfectly well that this Zhou Qian was not the other Zhou Qian, the words still brought a blush to her cheeks.

Zhou Qian watched Song Luoxue’s expression darken and moved to comfort her. But before she could reach her, Song Luoxue lashed out, slapping her across the face.

Slap!

The blow stung only slightly, but it left Zhou Qian stunned. She slowly turned to face Song Luoxue, who now wore a look of panic and distress. Song Luoxue gasped for breath, the corners of her eyes reddening slightly. “Don’t say such things again! And stop smiling! No matter how brightly you smile, you’ll never be her!”

With that, Song Luoxue stormed out of the room alone.

Still reeling from the slap, Zhou Qian touched her stinging cheek, a wave of resentment washing over her.

What’s wrong with Song Luoxue? she wondered. They had publicly announced their relationship that very day, yet by nightfall, Song Luoxue had struck her without provocation. Could it be because Zhou Qian had dared to resist her earlier?

Song Luoxue only likes my gentle side.

Sniffling miserably, Zhou Qian forced back tears and walked to the sink to wash her face.

No matter how brightly you smile, you’ll never be like her? What does that even mean? Could it be… Song Luoxue already knows the original owner was lying to her? She’s known all along that the original owner wasn’t her true White Moonlight? She knows what her White Moonlight looks like, which is why she said those words?

Panic surged through Zhou Qian. She hastily wiped her face and called Mo Zhen. “Hey, Xiao Mo, did you see Luoxue run out earlier?”

Mo Zhen noticed Zhou Qian’s voice was hoarse, as if she had just been crying. She quickly replied, “Yes, I saw Teacher Song rush out in a hurry. Sister Qianqian… did you two have a fight?”

Zhou Qian continued, “Just a little lovers’ quarrel. Go after her right now and send me your location later. I’ll come over.”

Mo Zhen nodded. “Okay, I’ll go immediately.”

She hung up.

Zhou Qian slumped into a corner, her mind racing as she tried to recall what Song Luoxue’s White Moonlight had been like in the novel.

Song Luoxue’s White Moonlight was none other than her first love, a man she had met in high school named Chu Ruobing. Most of her high school years were spent secretly pining for him. Though she knew his name, in  The White Moonlight’s Revenge , the original protagonist had lied to Song Luoxue, claiming her mother had remarried and changed her name. Moreover, Zhou Qian bore a striking resemblance to Chu Ruobing, which further convinced Song Luoxue of Zhou Qian’s White Moonlight identity.

According to the original plot, Song Luoxue should have met Chu Ruobing after her suicide attempt by jumping into the river. So how had she uncovered Zhou Qian’s lies?

The moment Zhou Qian thought of “jumping into the river,” a chilling premonition flashed through her mind. Without even grabbing her coat, she bolted out into the freezing wind.

Song Luoxue had seemed mentally unstable earlier. Could she have run off to jump into the river?

Though Zhou Qian desperately didn’t want to entertain this thought, she had to chase after Song Luoxue for her safety. As she ran, she texted Mo Zhen: Have you caught up with Song Luoxue? Where is she now?

Half a minute later, Mo Zhen replied: I chased Teacher Song to Binjiang Park, but I lost her in the park’s corridor. I don’t know where she is now.

Zhou Qian’s pupils constricted at the message. Binjiang Park? Wasn’t that where the Binjiang River flowed—the very spot where Song Luoxue had jumped into the river in the original story?!