After Being Bitten By Top-Tier O, Flop A Went Viral - Chapter 16

16: You Deserve All of This

“Hmm?”

Perhaps still lost in her emotions, Qin Que only responded with a vague, nasal hum.

“I said I don’t mind,” Yan Qing patiently repeated for the second time. “You can fantasize about me, just like how I marked you. You’re just being affected by pheromones—there’s no need to feel guilty about it.” She carefully chose her words, not because she doubted her decision, but because she wanted to ensure Qin Que could accept it without any psychological barriers. “If you really need physical intimacy to ease the discomfort caused by the mark, you can tell me. I’ll consider it.”

“How could that be okay?” Qin Que instinctively objected. The fact that Yan Qing wasn’t angry already filled her with gratitude, so she was even more unwilling to continue making mistakes.

Yan Qing laughed helplessly. “Have you forgotten we’re filming a dating show? Even without pheromone interference, kissing and hugging are perfectly normal. Didn’t you watch the first two seasons?”

Qin Que: “……”

Of course she had. She even knew that some couples went from being complete strangers to passionately kissing on the show within just a month.

But it still felt wrong to her. There was a fundamental difference between intimacy born of affection and intimacy driven by pheromones. The former was completely fine, while the latter was something she couldn’t accept.

“Then what do you plan to do?” Yan Qing’s voice grew lighter. “Keep pretending to be the most familiar strangers with me on this dating show, or just quit outright?”

“I…” Qin Que gritted her teeth. She had already thought about it. “I can quit.”

Even if she were criticized for leaving the industry, she didn’t want to spend this month tormented by guilt.

“But that would make me very sad,” Yan Qing said, though there was laughter in her voice. “I finally get to join a variety show, only to scare off my partner. People might think I’m some kind of monster.”

Amidst this gentle teasing, Qin Que’s heavy heart lightened a little, and she even mustered the energy to respond to Yan Qing’s joke. “How could that be? Everyone knows what kind of person you are.”

“Really? I don’t even know myself.” Yan Qing’s tone carried a hint of self-deprecation. “But I don’t want you to quit. You deserve to be seen by more people.”

The deeper she got to know Qin Que, the more she felt her initial decision had been brilliant.

This woman was a buried treasure—her looks, character, and even her talent were all outstanding.

With just a little polishing, she would shine like a gem freed from its rough shell.

She would become a great friend to Yan Qing, or even her most capable ally.

“But…” Perhaps moved by the sincerity in Yan Qing’s words, the alpha’s voice wavered.

“Worst-case scenario, do you really plan to act on your thoughts?” Yan Qing felt like she had used up a decade’s worth of patience just to coax her. “Are you going to come over and kiss me right now?”

“No, no, no, no, no!” The response was a rapid-fire string of denials. Even though she could only see a blurry shadow, Yan Qing could vividly imagine Qin Que shaking her head frantically.

“Then that settles it,” Yan Qing laughed. “As long as you can control yourself, those fantasies are just fantasies—they won’t actually hurt me. Besides…”

Your fantasies are so innocent and gentle that I didn’t even notice you had ulterior motives.

Yan Qing felt that saying this might be a bit too harsh, so she held back.

“But… I really don’t know how to interact with you,” Qin Que murmured after a long silence.

She was too easily affected by Yan Qing’s pheromones, making it difficult to face her with a normal mindset.

“Didn’t you think about how to interact with your partner before joining the show?” Yan Qing asked, puzzled.

Qin Que recalled her conversation with her mothers.

Treat her like a romantic partner. Ideally, make it real.

Was that even appropriate?

When Qin Que didn’t respond, Yan Qing didn’t press. “Just act the way you originally planned. Honestly, you’re… overly cautious around me. That’s not the right attitude for a dating show couple.”

She finally voiced what had been bothering her. “Why do you keep calling me ‘teacher’? I never taught you anything, and I’m not much older than you. Do you really respect me that much?”

When Yan Qing wasn’t being serious, her tone carried a coquettish softness, like a kitten’s tail brushing against one’s heart.

Even the most hard-hearted person would find it difficult to resist lowering their guard and offering her everything they had.

Let alone Qin Que.

Flustered, she hurriedly explained, afraid of being misunderstood. “No, it’s because I… I’m your fan. You praised my acting, and I was really touched. Plus, I was overthinking things at the time…”

“Oh~” Yan Qing cut her off, her laughter deepening. “So you tried to cover up your thoughts by using formal language and keeping your distance?”

Qin Que nodded in shame, then remembered Yan Qing might not see it and let out a muffled “Mm.”

“Tsk, you…” Yan Qing sighed. “You really underestimate yourself.”

“Wh-what?” Qin Que was confused.

“Did it ever occur to you that the reason I said and did those things wasn’t because I’m some noble, selfless, or particularly respectable person, but because…” Yan Qing’s tone was light yet firm, like a small hammer tapping rhythmically against Qin Que’s heart, “you deserve all of it.”

This was such a precious compliment that Qin Que’s first reaction wasn’t pride but panic. “You’re exaggerating too much. I…”

“See? ‘You’ again.” Yan Qing complained unhappily. “The more I praise you, the more you think I’m some saint and the more you avoid me. Do I have to scold you to make you feel at ease? You don’t seem like someone with that kind of kink.”

Qin Que: “……”

She didn’t dare speak anymore—partly because she was afraid of saying the wrong thing and upsetting Yan Qing, and partly because she was now having the audacious thought that this grumbling version of Yan Qing was utterly adorable.

“Anyway, since we’re both guests on this show now, we’re equals. You don’t need to be so nervous around me. I’m not some fragile statue that’ll break at a touch—just relax,” Yan Qing’s voice grew drowsy. “If you keep treating me like this, the audience will have to rely entirely on their imaginations to ship us. Don’t make it so hard for them.”

Qin Que held back for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.

Yan Qing laughed along. “Use your skills as an actress, okay? Just treat this like a drama, and I’m your scene partner. Beyond that, I’m nothing.”

Before Qin Que could respond, she muttered, “Though your romantic acting really is… Maybe just treat me as a friend?”

Qin Que: “…I’ll try.”

She was starting to believe Yan Qing’s earlier praise was based on her own merits. It seemed the other woman was indeed very objective.

As Qin Que mulled over Yan Qing’s words, the woman across from her stretched lazily. “I’m sleepy. Time for bed. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Qin Que lay down as well but still couldn’t sleep.

Yan Qing’s words had dispelled her thoughts of quitting or running away, and her forgiveness had finally brought Qin Que some peace of mind.

She couldn’t control her thoughts, but she could control her actions. The pheromone interference was only temporary—one day, she would be able to face Yan Qing with a clear conscience.

For now, what she needed was to treat Yan Qing as her real partner, to repay her kindness, and to ensure this rare opportunity didn’t go to waste.

It was just another… beautiful dream.

With this resolution, she eventually drifted into sleep.

Perhaps because her marker was nearby, she slept soundly for the first time in over ten days, free of dreams.

—

At 8 a.m. the next day, the broadcast on the dorm door sounded on schedule, its melodious tune echoing throughout the room.

Qin Que had actually woken up at 7:30 but hadn’t moved, worried that getting up would disturb Yan Qing.

Now, she sat up in bed. The autumn sunlight streamed through the thin white curtains, and after a good night’s sleep, she felt refreshed. She turned her head to look—

“So noisy.”

The lump under the blankets on the opposite bed let out a muffled grumble before the furry head retreated further into the covers, wriggling in dissatisfaction like an annoyed caterpillar.

There was no trace left of the wise, comforting older sister from last night.

Qin Que: “……”

The broadcast continued to blare, as if determined to wake everyone up.

As the “caterpillar” squirmed even more violently, Qin Que recalled the notes she’d made before joining the show: Pay attention to your partner’s needs. Do your best to fulfill her wishes.

She scrambled up so quickly she nearly hit the ceiling, then bent down and walked to the edge of the upper bunk.

With a long stretch, she reached the wall and—click—pulled the broadcast plug from its socket.

Silence instantly returned to the world.