After Differentiating into an Alpha, I Marked My Love Rival - Chapter 15

Ji Yongshu suppressed the tangled thoughts in her mind and spoke earnestly, “I’m sorry about our first meeting. I didn’t realize the abnormality in my body and failed to take suppressants in time.”

Jiang Zhiluo held her breath, her heart pounding so violently it seemed about to leap from her chest. She seemed to understand what Ji Yongshu wanted to say.

“The doctor said I inhaled excessive omega pheromones during my differentiation period, which forced my body into a rut,” Ji Yongshu explained slowly, ensuring Jiang Zhiluo could follow.

But this explanation was entirely unnecessary—Jiang Zhiluo was already well-versed in the potential complications of secondary differentiation. The moment pheromones were mentioned, she grasped the situation completely.

Yet she didn’t interrupt, merely watching with slightly reddened eyes, maintaining the pretense of confusion about Ji Yongshu’s intentions.

Seeing the omega’s bewildered expression, Ji Yongshu found herself unexpectedly tongue-tied. A faint blush crept across her cheeks as her voice softened uncharacteristically:

“Could you… give me some of your pheromones?”

Jiang Zhiluo’s heart raced wildly. She pressed her lips together, fingers clutching her clothes so tightly the knuckles ached from the strain.

Is Ji Yongshu wanting her pheromones?

Even knowing this might be a request born of necessity, the thought still made her pulse quicken. The mere fact that Ji Yongshu needed her pheromones to endure the rut was enough to set her heart aflame.

It was common knowledge that alphas typically required pheromones from either highly compatible omegas or those they favored to safely navigate their ruts.

Though Ji Yongshu hadn’t fully differentiated yet, Jiang Zhiluo knew their compatibility couldn’t be low—otherwise her pheromones wouldn’t have triggered Ji Yongshu’s rut in the first place.

While Jiang Zhiluo had never put much stock in compatibility scores, nor believed they were paramount in alpha-omega relationships, she couldn’t deny their significance now. Higher compatibility meant greater chances with Ji Yongshu, especially when affection hadn’t yet developed between them.

At least Ji Yongshu couldn’t use incompatibility as grounds for rejection.

For the first time, Jiang Zhiluo felt grateful for having differentiated into an SS-class omega.

She moistened her dry lips with her tongue, leaving the pale pink flesh glistening. “How should I… give them to you?” Her voice carried perfect innocence, her gaze wide and guileless, showing no trace of suspicion about Ji Yongshu’s claims.

Ji Yongshu’s fingers tapped lightly against her thigh as she contemplated Jiang Zhiluo’s reaction. Didn’t she worry about being deceived?

But matters were progressing more smoothly than anticipated. Ji Yongshu wasn’t about to question her good fortune by asking something as foolish as “Aren’t you afraid I’m lying?”

“Could Miss Jiang provide me with an item carrying your pheromones?” The specifics, of course, would be Jiang Zhiluo’s decision.

Truth be told, the request bordered on outrageous—for a young, unattached omega, it verged on offensive. Had anyone dared make such an impertinent demand of Ji Yongshu, she’d have walked out immediately and blacklisted the offender.

The irony, of course, was that the one making this shameless request was none other than herself.

Despite Ji Yongshu’s composed demeanor, the ears hidden beneath her hair were flushed crimson, and a faint blush spread across her frost-kissed face.

“Don’t worry, I won’t use it for anything strange,” Ji Yongshu assured her. Afraid Jiang Zhiluo might refuse, she coaxed and pleaded, “Once my differentiation is complete, my engagement with Zhou Yi will be nullified.”

Jiang Zhiluo deliberately feigned hesitation, worried that agreeing too quickly might arouse Ji Yongshu’s suspicion.

Her sister already disliked her—she couldn’t risk revealing her true nature.

In front of Ji Yongshu, she would always remain that gentle, innocent omega.

Ji Yongshu’s palms were slick with sweat. She hadn’t felt this nervous even during her own differentiation—it was as if her life now rested in Jiang Zhiluo’s hands, entirely at the other’s mercy.

After a long pause, Jiang Zhiluo finally made her decision. She gazed steadily at Ji Yongshu, her eyes shimmering with faint red hues, lashes trembling slightly. “Alright, I agree.”

Ji Yongshu exhaled deeply in relief.

A sincere smile curved her lips. “Thank you, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Zhiluo tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes glinting with a soft, playful light. “No need to be so formal, sister. If you don’t mind…”

She paused, lifting her gaze to meet Ji Yongshu’s, her soft lips curling into a shy yet daring smile.

Her voice was as light as falling raindrops, rippling with unspoken girlish longing—

“You can call me Zhiluo.”

Ji Yongshu blinked, momentarily stunned, then replied with calm composure, “Of course.”

“Zhiluo.”

Jiang Zhiluo had never known two such ordinary words could sound so enchanting, like the mellow strum of a pipa from poetry, truly embodying the phrase “large and small pearls cascading onto a jade plate.”

Her face burned.

Hastily, she picked up her teacup, using the motion to hide the springtime tenderness in her eyes.

The steam painted her cheeks a deep red.

She tried her best to conceal it, but the delicate fragrance of tea—or perhaps something else—slowly unfurled through the room.

At first, Ji Yongshu didn’t notice. The tea Jiang Zhiluo had brewed today was particularly aromatic, enveloping her senses, making it impossible to distinguish between the tea’s scent and the omega’s pheromones.

Only when her own breath turned scorching did Ji Yongshu abruptly realize something was wrong.

The restlessness of her rut surged anew, the beast within her howling to claim the alluring omega before her.

Ji Yongshu immediately held her breath, clamping a hand over her nose and mouth, urgency sharp in her voice as she called out, “Your pheromones!”

Jiang Zhiluo’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes hazy with confusion. “Huh? What about my pheromones?”

Her speech was sluggish, clearly already slipping into a daze.

Ji Yongshu cursed under her breath, forcing herself to steady her hands enough to inject a dose of suppressants. Thankfully, she always carried them, prepared for emergencies like this.

Once the suppressants took effect, Ji Yongshu regained her composure, though the churning desire hadn’t fully subsided. At least she wouldn’t lose control and mark Jiang Zhiluo in a mindless frenzy.

It was a pity, though—her alpha suppressants couldn’t be used on an omega.

Without hesitation, Ji Yongshu stood and strode toward the door.

Jiang Zhiluo collapsed onto the carpet, her flailing arm knocking over the teacup on the table, spilling tea all over the floor.

Her eyes were red with tears, intermittent gasps escaping her throat, her long hair disheveled over her shoulders—a picture of uncontrollable emotion.

“Elder sister, don’t go…”

The exposed nape of her neck, pale and soft, intensified the tea fragrance in the room. The pheromones of this SS-rank omega were enough to drive any alpha wild.

Ji Yongshu swallowed hard, repeatedly warning herself to stay calm.

Spotting the air purification system switch by the door, she quickly activated it. Only when the scent had somewhat dissipated did she crack the door open slightly.

“Xie Yangqing!” Ji Yongshu gripped the doorknob tightly, not daring to open it fully. “Get me an omega inhibitor, now!”

Xie Yangqing’s expression darkened. “Right away.”

Before he could leave, another man standing nearby suddenly produced a fresh inhibitor from his pocket and handed it to Ji Yongshu.

His expression remained calm, as if completely unconcerned.

Ji Yongshu paused momentarily before realizing—this must have been prepared by Jiang Zhiluo’s orders.

Of course, it was common knowledge that omegas always carried inhibitors when going out. In her panic, she’d momentarily forgotten.

Taking the inhibitor, Ji Yongshu loaded it into a fresh syringe, then held her breath as she pulled Jiang Zhiluo’s arm and swiftly administered the injection.

The omega’s body had gone limp, barely able to sit upright. Having been propping herself up with one hand, Jiang Zhiluo collapsed weakly against Ji Yongshu the moment she was pulled forward.

Her shoulder pressed against Ji Yongshu’s chest, head tilting back to rest on her shoulder, hot, labored breaths whispering against Ji Yongshu’s ear.

The overwhelming tea fragrance assaulted Ji Yongshu’s senses, making her head spin. Her hand holding the syringe nearly trembled as her bl00d boiled, urging her to mark the omega in her arms.

Jiang Zhiluo’s dazed eyes were half-lidded, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings with each shaky exhale.

Ji Yongshu couldn’t bear to look.

After administering the inhibitor, she mustered all her strength to push the omega away from her embrace, helping her lean back against the sofa instead.

With her back against the cushions, Jiang Zhiluo’s tear-filled eyes still clung to Ji Yongshu. A soft, needy gasp escaped her lips before she slowly reached out, fingertips hooking onto the hem of Ji Yongshu’s shawl.

“Elder sister, don’t go…”

The words struck Ji Yongshu as eerily familiar—as if Jiang Zhiluo had said the same thing when they first met.

Back then, Ji Yongshu had coldly pushed away the clinging omega without hesitation, watching indifferently as she writhed in pain on the floor.

But now, Ji Yongshu closed her eyes, forcing herself to ignore the lingering tea scent in the air.

Kneeling before Jiang Zhiluo, allowing the omega to cling to her clothes, she simply answered in a soft, gentle voice:

“Mm, I’m not going.”