After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: “Do You Hate Me?”

Tang Li had a deep sleep, as if she had a few dreams. When she woke up, she felt a slight, sour tingle at the base of her marking tooth. Her eyelids hadn’t fully opened yet, but she could already smell the scent of pheromones in her mouth.

The girl lying in the large bed suddenly sat up like a startled fish, her first reaction being to shake her wrist.

Good, no soreness.

Then she touched her face, her clothes, and activated her awareness to sense every part of her body. Not a single trace of indulgence could be found. She finally breathed a sigh of relief and set her mind at ease—for now. However, her body did feel a little tired, like it had been mildly overdrawn, though without any obvious signs. This bit of fatigue was like waking from a seductive, colorful dream—nothing serious for an Alpha.

Only… her clothes…

As Tang Li slowly came back to her senses, she realized she was lying on a very comfortable large bed. From the off-white cotton quilt to the tidy desk nearby, it was clear that this wasn’t a hotel, nor was it her home.

Last night, she vaguely remembered drinking with her classmate Yao Cheche. She might’ve been a bit muddled when she ended up here? She had a vague impression that “Xiao Yu” had called the ride for her.

Tang Li clicked her tongue in frustration.

Xiao Yu was such a good person—how could she abandon choosing a gift for her halfway just to go maintain some half-baked friendship with Yao Cheche?

She didn’t even like that friend. After last night, Tang Li had decided to cut her off entirely—not like she was anyone important anyway.

Feeling her underwear stick uncomfortably to her skin, she was just about to head to the bathroom when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

“You’re up, Tang Li?”

The voice was clear and crisp—not soft like many Omegas—but even more pleasant. Tang Li immediately recognized who it was and quickly responded.

She glanced at the time—it was a little after 7 a.m. She hurried to wash up as quickly as possible. Worried the person outside was waiting, she didn’t even change out of the wrinkled clothes she’d slept in before heading out.

The young woman outside was wearing a loose light-green nightdress. Her black hair framed her fair, graceful arms as she gathered the loose strands. The air of satisfaction about her was subtly hidden.

Qin Shiyang was wearing an apron she must’ve dug up from somewhere, and she looked quite cheerful as she fried an egg. It looked good—white wrapping golden yolk—and it smelled just as appetizing. The toast had been warmed in the toaster. On the marble tabletop sat three jars of jam and peanut butter, all of which looked incredibly tempting.

Tang Li hadn’t eaten much last night. The smell now stirred her appetite, but when she saw Qin Shiyang, she still politely greeted her and thanked her.

Qin Shiyang gave her a sideways glance and smiled brightly and warmly.

“Eat first.”

Then she sat down and used a small brush to spread Thousand Island dressing on her toast, folding the fried egg inside. She ate with elegant manners. Her makeup was light, no lipstick, her lips a natural shade between light and dark—like a deep pink rosebud about to bloom. Tang Li’s gaze accidentally drifted over, then quickly dropped to her own breakfast.

Seeing her eat with such appetite, Qin Shiyang’s lips curved slightly.

As they should.

Last night, she had used all her strength just to get Tang Li into the guest room. The little Alpha apparently didn’t know how to control her pheromones—either that or she was too drunk to realize—her pheromones had drifted right up to Qin Shiyang’s face.

Qin Shiyang was at the tail end of her heat cycle. Though the dangerous phase had passed, having Alpha pheromones waft straight into her face was intense. Even the most self-controlled Omega would struggle to resist under such conditions.

When the rich, lingering scent of ylang-ylang surrounded her, Qin Shiyang calmly released her own pheromones in response. Enticed by the Omega’s presence, the Alpha’s pheromones flowed even more freely—gentle but dominating, quickly and passionately flooding her senses.

Qin Shiyang didn’t do anything further. She simply kept a two-person distance while breathing in the scent, even as her throat let out involuntary hums.

Sensing things might get out of hand if she stayed, Qin Shiyang used the last of her willpower to leave the room. Before closing the door, she turned on the ventilation and air-purifier system. Although the neighborhood was nothing fancy, it wasn’t old or rundown either. Everything necessary was available and regularly maintained, which allowed her to live here long-term.

Tang Li had no idea, sleeping peacefully through it all. At most, she felt a bit warm in the middle of the night, but the ventilation system quickly suppressed it.

The little Alpha’s pheromones were very much to her liking, and last night confirmed that for Qin Shiyang. But having made up her mind, she now felt a bit of a headache.

The girl before her seemed to prefer the delicate, soft type. If she directly revealed her identity and proposed signing a contract, it would come off as forceful.

More importantly, Qin Shiyang wasn’t some overbearing CEO character out of a cliché novel. She wouldn’t do anything illegal or coercive. Besides, Omegas couldn’t exactly force Alphas into submission anyway.

At home, Qin Shiyang didn’t wear scent-suppressing patches. The small reddish gland at the back of her pale neck was barely visible. Even with the ventilation and interior design, Tang Li’s sharp Alpha nose could still detect the faint scent of tea. The cool, refreshing top note slowly transitioned to the middle—like unroasted green tea: slightly astringent yet mellow, waiting to be picked and tasted.

She had encountered other Omega scents before—milky or sweet citrus. At first sniff, they might be fine, but too much became cloying.

Qin Shiyang’s pheromones, with their faint woody note and primary spring-tea tone, blended perfectly—like a postcard sent from her body. But unless she allowed it, that postcard was stamped “Do Not Touch.”

This kind of elusive fragrance made Tang Li uneasy. She really wanted to go wash her clothes, but Qin Shiyang had already made her breakfast—she didn’t have the nerve to shut herself away again right after eating.

Ten minutes later, after she’d helped clean up the plates and pans, the well-dressed woman reappeared. Qin Shiyang had added a rose-mauve lipstick that brightened her complexion. Her light makeup highlighted her naturally beautiful features. She wore an oatmeal-colored knit top and a light beige long skirt that outlined her slender figure—elegant but not too tight or gaudy.

“Where are you going? I’m heading to work.”

Now that Qin Shiyang was leaving, Tang Li obviously couldn’t stay. She was about to say she was going home but saw the time—it was the morning rush. Though technically unemployed at the moment, she didn’t want to seem idle in front of Qin Shiyang. So she casually mentioned the address of the company her original self had applied to—figuring she might as well go check it out today.

Qin Shiyang’s place was about 500 meters from the subway. Since it was rush hour, they waited a full minute for the elevator to come down. When the door opened, a slightly overweight man was inside, head bowed over his phone. As soon as he glanced up and saw them, his gaze latched onto them.

Both Tang Li and Qin Shiyang were striking in appearance—even in a world of handsome Alphas and beautiful Omegas, two stunning women standing side-by-side still drew admiration.

But after a few seconds, Tang Li keenly noticed the man’s gaze had gone beyond admiration—he was scrutinizing the Omega, and occasionally flicked glances at Tang Li, as if sizing her up.

Unaware she hadn’t fully mastered her pheromonal control, Tang Li didn’t realize the faint trace of ylang-ylang in the air had triggered a territorial response in the man. Still, blatant staring like that was rude no matter what.

With a “ding,” the elevator reached the ground floor. As the man reluctantly withdrew his gaze and motioned for them to exit first, Tang Li abruptly dragged Qin Shiyang forward—stepping hard on the man’s foot. Despite looking slim, Tang Li’s step made him nearly scream. Just as he was about to curse, she quickly apologized:

“Big bro, are you okay? Do you need a hospital? I’m so sorry—no? Oh thank you! You’re such a good person!”

He obviously didn’t need a hospital. The man fumed as they left, only then pulling off his sock to see his now-red and swollen toe.

Because of that delay, they were now pressed for time. Just as Tang Li was about to rush Qin Shiyang toward the station, the woman calmly led her into the neighboring apartment building and pressed the button for the underground garage.

Tang Li blinked in surprise:

“You have a car?”

Qin Shiyang didn’t deny it:

“I just prefer low-carbon commuting.”

A plain white car was parked in a public space. Qin Shiyang took the driver’s seat and gestured for Tang Li to sit in the passenger seat. The car was tidy, minimalistic, and free of overpowering perfume—very comfortable.

Tang Li, imagining the female lead working hard to buy her own cozy car, couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sympathy. Her gaze landed on Qin Shiyang’s profile—those soft, natural features, enhanced by light makeup, were exceptionally lovely.

To drive, Qin Shiyang rolled up her sleeves a bit. She checked her phone twice to check the time, but her sleeves kept slipping. Tang Li finally couldn’t bear it and helped her roll them properly, her fingertips brushing soft skin—and the memory of the clothes she was wearing returned in full force.

The hazy sensual dream now flushed her cheeks, painting them with embarrassment. She chastised herself inwardly and looked away, ashamed.

How could she dream like that about sweet, innocent Xiao Yu?

Seriously—

Trying to purge those inappropriate thoughts, Tang Li pulled out her phone and started replying to messages. Her contact list was full—family, friends, acquaintances—so her notifications were always maxed out. She threw herself into the replies to distract herself and didn’t notice the subtle change in the woman’s mood beside her.

“Tang Li.”

At a red light, Qin Shiyang called her name. Tang Li looked up from her phone and met the Omega’s slightly aggrieved expression. Her eyes shimmered with emotion, like misty rain gathering.

She turned slightly, still keeping a respectful distance, but her breath seemed just inches away. Qin Shiyang raised a hand, her fingertip hovering in front of Tang Li’s face. The soft pink nail flashed past her eyes.

Tang Li almost instinctively grabbed her hand.

“Do you… hate me?”

Tang Li quickly denied it. But the moment she opened her mouth, the woman’s lips curved into a subtle smile, her next question following swiftly:

“Then why are you in my car, chatting so happily with other women?”