After Being Bitten By Top-Tier O, Flop A Went Viral - Chapter 34

34: The Pain Made Her Scent Change

Qin Que and her partner were the first among the three groups to get their meal. Judging by the ship name of Jin Shuo and Yan Yuzhen’s pairing, it was clear that both of them were fans of instant food—neither had much experience in the kitchen. In their battle with the fish, they were slapped several times by its tail before finally conquering the stubborn creature. When they tasted the fish soup, which had turned saltier than seawater due to their seasoning mishap, Yan Yuzhen was moved to tears. “I’ve never thought fish soup could taste so good!”

Jin Shuo nodded silently and handed her a piece of bread to ease the saltiness.

As for the third group, Nie Sijun was actually a decent cook. However, because Dai Yuchen spent the entire time gnawing on raw corn while watching coldly from the sidelines, she took a long time just setting up the cooking area. By the time the fish soup was ready, the other two groups had already washed their pots clean.

Dai Yuchen had been waiting for Nie Sijun to beg for his help. He thought that if she gave him an out, he would take it—he had even planned to never let Nie Sijun appear in public again after this variety show ended. She should just stay quietly at home to stop her from overthinking and rebelling against him.

But Nie Sijun didn’t give him that chance.

The woman slowly but firmly finished making the fish soup and sat down to eat it unhurriedly, leaving Dai Yuchen with nothing but the aroma to salivate over.

He couldn’t bring himself to ask for food again, and he knew exactly what Nie Sijun’s answer would be.

So when Mi Sike called everyone to regroup, Dai Yuchen—who had eaten nothing but raw corn and was now in a foul mood—stood out starkly among the well-fed, cheerful crowd.

Mi Sike glanced at the setting sun and announced, “Today’s final task is picking oranges.” She pointed toward a distant orchard. “You have thirty minutes. There are tools in the orchard, and you’re free to pick as you like. Rankings will be based on the total weight of oranges collected.”

“This is a great arrangement—we even get dessert!” Yan Yuzhen cheered and was the first to dash toward the orchard, with the others following closely behind.

From afar, the orchard was just a patch of lush green, but up close, the branches were laden with oranges of varying sizes, their bright yellow hue a delightful sight.

The three groups each fetched ladders and scissors and began picking.

“I’ll pick, and you catch them below,” Yan Qing said, climbing the ladder swiftly and reaching for the nearest orange.

“Okay, be careful.” Qin Que steadied the ladder with one hand to prevent it from slipping and used the other to take the oranges Yan Qing handed down, placing them in the basket.

Beside them, Yan Yuzhen’s group worked just as efficiently. Both were trained dancers, so their movements were quick and nimble. Within moments, both groups had gathered a small half-basket of oranges.

Meanwhile, Nie Sijun and Dai Yuchen remained in their standoff. Dai Yuchen had snatched the basket, but Nie Sijun didn’t care. She’d rather borrow a plastic bag from Mi Sike and pick slowly than say a single word to him.

The basket couldn’t be carried, and since he already had one, Mi Sike refused to give him another bag. Dai Yuchen had no choice but to climb down the ladder every time he picked a few oranges to deposit them in the basket. As a result, he wasn’t much faster than Nie Sijun, who took frequent breaks.

His mood had soured to the extreme. Ever since joining this show, he’d been humiliated and angered at every turn—everyone disliked him, and now even his wife refused to acknowledge him.

His resentful gaze fell on Yan Qing and Qin Que, who were chatting and laughing not far away.

Somehow, he convinced himself that this was all their fault.

It was Yan Qing’s fault for always being so kind to Nie Sijun, helping her with everything and giving her the illusion that she could defy him.

And that Qin Que was nothing but a disgrace to alphas—a spineless pretty girl who acted like an obedient dog to an omega and still grinned like an idiot. Maybe Nie Sijun had taken a liking to this kind of weakling and that was why she was giving him the cold shoulder.

The angrier he got, the more a malicious plan took shape in his mind.

Dai Yuchen carried his ladder over to the orange tree closest to the two and pretended to start picking.

What is he doing here?

Qin Que glanced warily at Dai Yuchen as he climbed the ladder.

There were plenty of orange trees around, and Dai Yuchen had always treated them with hostility. Why would he suddenly come over now?

“Yan Qing, should we move somewhere else to pick?” She couldn’t guess his intentions, but her instincts screamed danger.

“No need, this tree has a lot of big ones.” Yan Qing smiled down at her and said something cryptic but clearly referring to Dai Yuchen, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

Qin Que was about to laugh when Dai Yuchen suddenly let out a sharp cry.

She turned instinctively and saw the man’s tall frame toppling from the ladder—and the ladder itself, propelled by the force, crashing straight toward Yan Qing beside him.

Yan Qing’s hand was still on an orange, leaving her no time to dodge.

Qin Que watched as the slender figure was struck hard by the falling ladder, letting out a muffled groan before plummeting downward.

“Yan Qing!”

She spread her arms and caught the woman’s body, but the impact sent them both tumbling onto the grass.

“What happened?!” The others rushed over in alarm.

But Qin Que couldn’t spare a response. Frantically, she turned over to check on the woman in her arms.

Yan Qing’s eyes were tightly shut, her long lashes trembling faintly, her lips pressed into a bloodless line.

“Yan Qing! Are you okay?!”

Qin Que scanned her body but found no visible injuries. Panic burned in her chest, her eyes turning red.

Just as she was about to tell Mi Sike to call an ambulance, a cool hand touched her cheek.

Yan Qing’s voice was weak but calm, her gaze steady and reassuring. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Just a scratch.”

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeve.

A long, fresh cut ran along her fair forearm, bl00d slowly seeping from it.

The people around them gasped. Yan Yuzhen cried out, “That’s such a long cut! How can you say it’s nothing?”

Mi Sike had already turned to fetch the first aid kit from the car.

Qin Que stayed silent, her eyes locked on the bleeding wound.

She realized Yan Qing must have raised her arm to block the ladder at the last second—otherwise, the injury might have been on her face.

She knew the wound wasn’t serious, just a superficial cut that didn’t even require a hospital visit.

But she also knew Yan Qing must be in pain, even if she refused to show it.

The scent of alcohol in the air had turned sharp, betraying the pain of the marked omega. Every breath Qin Que took sent phantom aches through her own body.

And with it came overwhelming guilt.

How could I let Yan Qing get hurt right in front of me?

Her expression was graver than ever as she took the first aid kit from Mi Sike, pulled out the iodine, and forced a smile. “Let me treat this for you. Bear with it.”

Yan Qing, now sitting up on her own, smiled back and ruffled her hair with her uninjured hand. “Don’t look so serious. Just apply it—I’m not afraid of pain.”

Liar. Your scent is screaming in pain.

Qin Que swallowed the words. She knew Yan Qing was trying to comfort her, but the kinder Yan Qing was, the more useless she felt.

I couldn’t protect her, and now she’s the one comforting me.

She pressed her lips together, blinking rapidly to force back the heat building in her eyes, and carefully applied the iodine to Yan Qing’s wound.

Yan Qing didn’t make a sound the entire time, only flinching slightly when the antiseptic first touched the cut before going still again.

But Qin Que could still smell her scent, could still feel the pain radiating from it.

Their bond as marked partners ensured they truly shared every breath, every moment of joy—and now, every stab of pain.

When the bandage was finally secured, Yan Qing gently touched her face again, her eyes filled with quiet regret. “I’m sorry.”

For making you hurt with me.

Qin Que shook her head.

Don’t apologize.

She shared Yan Qing’s happiness—so she should share her pain too.

The one who should apologize was someone else.

Once she confirmed Yan Qing’s wound was properly treated, Qin Que stood and walked straight toward Dai Yuchen, who had been hiding at the back of the crowd.

The orange trees were short, and the man had landed on soft grass—completely unharmed.

The smirk on his face hadn’t even faded yet.

The others took one look at Qin Que’s expression and instinctively stepped aside.

Dai Yuchen tried to retreat, but Qin Que was already in front of him, grabbing his collar in a vice grip.

The alpha he had dismissed as spineless now glared at him with reddened eyes, fury radiating off her like a raging beast.

“You did that on purpose!”

For a moment, everyone—including Yan Qing—looked confused.

Only the culprit and the sole witness understood.

Dai Yuchen’s legs trembled, but he still blustered, trying to pry Qin Que’s hand off. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I fell by accident!”

But Qin Que’s arm, though slimmer than his, was like an unbreakable iron clamp around his neck. He couldn’t free himself.

His excuses only stoked her anger. Her grip tightened, cutting off his air.

“Liar!”