After Becoming an Alpha, I Marked My Nemesis - Chapter 20

“Come, mark me,” Song Luoxue said.

Zhou Qian slowly turned her gaze toward Song Luoxue. “I…”

Right, what was I supposed to say? She had been thinking about so many things that her thoughts were now completely jumbled.

Song Luoxue rubbed her temples with one hand while using her other hand to grip Zhou Qian’s bare arm for leverage as she sat up. “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I don’t know what came over me last night. I can’t believe I did something like that. Just thinking about it now scares me.”

Zhou Qian fell silent. What Song Luoxue had just said were exactly the questions she wanted to ask. She wanted to know why Song Luoxue had suddenly gone to Binjiang Park last night, why she had jumped without falling into the water, and how she, who couldn’t swim in the original novel, had suddenly learned to swim.

These were all the questions she wanted to ask.

But Song Luoxue’s single word—”sorry”—had stopped all her questions before she could voice them.

Zhou Qian finally spoke, “Why did you…”

Before Zhou Qian could finish her question, Song Luoxue pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh… don’t ask why. I just suddenly went crazy yesterday. I think I might have some kind of mental illness. Mo Zhen even suggested I see a doctor, but I always thought I was fine. Now I’m starting to think it really is me. Let’s not talk about it anymore. I’ll go see a doctor as soon as I see you’re feeling better today.”

Mental illness?

But the novel never mentioned anything like that. Could this be a hidden setting?

Zhou Qian frowned deeply. “But Luo Xue, we’ve been together for so long. I know in my heart whether you’re sick or not…”

Song Luoxue was clearly a normal person. But if you looked at yesterday’s events from a normal person’s perspective, they did seem rather abnormal. Aside from the possibility of Song Luoxue having a mental illness, Zhou Qian couldn’t think of any other explanation.

Seeing Zhou Qian about to ask more questions, Song Luoxue suddenly threw herself into Zhou Qian’s arms. “Darling, I know you love me, so you’ll forgive my bad habits, right? I really didn’t mean for yesterday to happen. If you want, I’ll jump into the river right now.”

Zhou Qian’s pupils constricted slightly at those words. She lowered her gaze to Song Luoxue. “What are you saying?”

At that moment, Song Luoxue’s eyes were rimmed with red as she looked up at Zhou Qian with a pitiful expression. “So you don’t blame me? Then please, don’t ask me about last night anymore. It was truly terrifying—a nightmare for me. Please…”

Zhou Qian fell silent.

Indeed, in this state, Zhou Qian couldn’t press her further.

Song Luoxue buried her face in Zhou Qian’s arms, sobbing quietly. “I never imagined things would turn out like this. I couldn’t remember anything from that time, as if another person had taken over my body. Maybe I really am sick.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qian realized Song Luoxue’s mental state was genuinely fragile. She gently patted her back in a comforting gesture. “Alright, alright, I won’t ask anymore. Just don’t cry. It hurts me to see you like this.”

Song Luoxue’s sobs subsided slightly, though she remained nestled in Zhou Qian’s embrace. “Hearing you say that makes me feel relieved. I knew you loved me the most.”

As she spoke, a sly, triumphant smile crept across her lips.

The next day at noon, Cheng Cheng visited again. Both Song Luoxue and Zhou Qian had caught colds, but their symptoms were mild and could be managed with over-the-counter medication. Cheng Cheng specifically instructed them to stay indoors and avoid drafts for the next few days, assuring them they’d feel better after a few good naps.

Zhou Qian had finished filming her drama, giving her plenty of time to care for Song Luoxue. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Song Luoxue’s mental state wasn’t quite right. She really wanted to take Song Luoxue to the hospital, just as Song Luoxue had suggested, but only after her own cold had cleared up.

The apartment had underfloor heating, making it as warm as spring inside. Despite her cold, Zhou Qian still did her usual stretching exercises. Since strenuous activity was out of the question, she focused on gentle stretches to keep her muscles limber.

After months of training, her physique had nearly returned to its former shape, and her abs were starting to show. Seeing Zhou Qian still exercising, Song Luoxue approached her. “You shouldn’t be working out with a cold,” she said. “Ning Xiao told me you used to not care about things like this.”

Zhou Qian paused slightly at Song Luoxue’s words, then chuckled dryly. “I’m an entertainer, after all. I have to maintain my figure. After all, the audience’s affection for me is largely due to my looks, so I need to take good care of myself while I’m still young.”

Song Luoxue laughed at this explanation. “Exactly! Even if you weren’t doing it for your fans, you should take care of yourself for me. To me, you’re the most vibrant rose in the garden.”

Of course, who wouldn’t want their White Moonlight to remain eternally beautiful?

Song Luoxue reached out and took Zhou Qian’s hand. “Alright, you have a cold. You should get some rest.”

She pulled Zhou Qian over to the sofa and sat her down. Zhou Qian noticed a faint flush on Song Luoxue’s cheeks, as if she had been drinking.

Though her nose was slightly congested from the cold, Zhou Qian could still detect the sweet, milky scent of camellias in the air. She only ever smelled this fragrance when she was with Song Luoxue, so it must be her pheromones.

She couldn’t deny it: she loved the scent of Song Luoxue’s pheromones.

Song Luoxue knelt on the sofa, her arms draped around Zhou Qian’s neck. Leaning close to Zhou Qian’s ear, she whispered, “Do you smell anything?”

Zhou Qian, lost in the intoxicatingly sweet scent, took a moment to regain her composure. “Ah… is there a smell?”

Song Luoxue clung to her like a vine. “You’ve been sniffing me all this time. Haven’t you?”

Exposed, Zhou Qian felt deeply ashamed. She reached out to gently remove Song Luoxue’s pale, slender arms from her neck, but Song Luoxue only tightened her grip, continuing in a soft, coaxing tone, “My heat cycle has started, but I haven’t taken any suppressants.”

Zhou Qian’s mind exploded with a sudden, deafening buzz. After a brief mental freeze, she blurted out, “I’ll go get you some suppressants right away!”

Song Luoxue remained kneeling beside her. “No need. Aren’t you the best suppressant? And without any side effects.”

Zhou Qian had already understood Song Luoxue’s implication, but she felt that sleeping with someone who looked exactly like her mortal enemy would be too sudden. She wasn’t mentally prepared for that.

Although Song Luoxue would caress Zhou Qian during her heat cycles, she had never felt such an overwhelming urge to be intimate with her before. Zhou Qian didn’t understand what was happening to her; Song Luoxue’s pheromones seemed to act like an aphrodisiac, making her entire body burn with heat.

Already suffering from a cold, the catalytic effect of Song Luoxue’s pheromones made her feel like she had a fever again, clouding her mind.

Thud! Zhou Qian suddenly grabbed Song Luoxue and pinned her to the sofa.

Song Luoxue gazed at Zhou Qian, thinking, After months of restraint, she’s finally lost control.

Zhou Qian slowly leaned closer, their noses almost touching. Song Luoxue’s eyes narrowed seductively. “You want me now? You’re being too hasty. Just moments ago, you were talking about finding me suppressants, and now you can’t hold back? Are you playing hard to get with me?”

Zhou Qian heard Song Luoxue’s words, but as if completely losing her mind, she lowered her head and bit Song Luoxue’s shoulder fiercely.

The pain didn’t make Song Luoxue push Zhou Qian away; instead, it only heightened her excitement.

Zhou Qian faintly tasted the metallic sweetness of bl00d on her lips. Only then did she snap back to her senses. She lifted her head, staring at Song Luoxue in disbelief. Song Luoxue smiled and asked, “Why did you stop?”

How did things turn out like this? Just now, I was completely out of control?

As Zhou Qian reeled in shock, Song Luoxue wrapped her arms around Zhou Qian’s neck. “Come on,” she urged, “mark me!”

Song Luoxue’s words echoed repeatedly in Zhou Qian’s mind. She knew this was wrong, yet her hands remained pressed against Song Luoxue, refusing to let go.

Seeing Zhou Qian’s hesitation, Song Luoxue chuckled seductively. “Haven’t you wanted this for so long? Now’s your chance. Hurry up and mark me!”

Song Luoxue felt the heat rising within her, like the flush of intoxication. Suddenly, she cupped Zhou Qian’s face.

After all, this face is identical to his. There’s no point in dwelling on it. I’ll just pretend it’s him when I’m aroused.

Song Luoxue leaned in and kissed Zhou Qian’s lips. Zhou Qian’s eyes widened in shock, as if paralyzed, unable to move. It wasn’t until she felt the warmth of the kiss that she realized what Song Luoxue had done.

She pushed Song Luoxue away, disbelief etched on her face.

Although she had done the same during their first meeting, her mind was clouded now. She feared that Song Luoxue’s “seduction” might lead her to do something unexpected.

Song Luoxue’s cheeks flushed crimson. She smiled and said, “You like me, don’t you? Why are you pushing me away? Hurry, I need you now. Mark me quickly!”

Song Luoxue’s pheromones, warm and fragrant, swirled upward, filling the air. At that moment, Zhou Qian detected a scent beyond the camellia—a green tea rose fragrance, sweet with a hint of bitterness, like a thorny rose, beautiful yet untouchable.

Only then did Zhou Qian realize that the scent was her own pheromones! It was the first time she had released her pheromones since transmigrating into this world.