After Differentiating into an Alpha, I Marked My Love Rival - Chapter 21

Last night’s events played vividly in Ji Yongshu’s mind.

Most alphas indeed forget their actions during their rut, but for some reason, Ji Yongshu remembered everything with startling clarity.

She could still recall how she’d tearfully called Jiang Zhiluo “wife,” how she’d stubbornly insisted on seeing her, even how she’d shamelessly stared at the omega’s scent gland like some hormone-driven predator who’d never seen an omega before.

There was no way she’d actually done these things!!

Ji Yongshu let out a silent scream, grabbing her blanket and pulling it tightly over her head like an ostrich burying itself in the sand.

Don’t think about it!

Just remembering last night’s events made her want to dig her toes into the ground and disappear into a hole. What must Jiang Zhiluo think of her?

That the omega had lent her a plush toy infused with her scent was already unexpectedly generous. What kind of impression must she have left—an alpha who barely knew her yet kept calling her “wife”?

Ji Yongshu wanted to die.

But then again—why had she mistaken Jiang Zhiluo for her wife? She’d even gotten jealous of Zhou Yi.

The person from last night couldn’t possibly have been her. She’d never act like that!

As she carefully reconstructed the events, past the overwhelming embarrassment, she suddenly remembered—Jiang Zhiluo hadn’t objected at all.

When she’d called her “wife,” Jiang Zhiluo had actually responded.

Ji Yongshu threw off the blanket and stared blankly at the ceiling, frowning as she pieced together Jiang Zhiluo’s reactions.

Something wasn’t right.

Any normal omega aware of her rut would’ve at most humored her with some comforting words. But Jiang Zhiluo had gone along with her antics, indulged her unreasonable demands, and even said something that sounded like a confession.

She’d even tucked her into bed.

Putting herself in Jiang Zhiluo’s shoes—she’d never patiently care for someone who was practically a love rival. She’d have calmly called someone close to Jiang Zhiluo and handed off the responsibility.

Yet Jiang Zhiluo hadn’t done that.

Why had she been so kind?

Ji Yongshu categorized Jiang Zhiluo’s actions as genuine care. She could recall how the omega had answered her patiently without a trace of irritation despite her unreasonable behavior.

Why?

Then she remembered one particular thing Jiang Zhiluo had said:

“I do have a white moonlight, but it’s not Zhou Yi.”

“It’s you.”

The omega’s gaze had been especially tender, her tone solemn—not like someone placating a difficult alpha, but someone seizing the chance to voice their true feelings.

Could it be…

She actually liked her?

The thought seemed absurd.

If Jiang Zhiluo truly liked her, why had she been entangled with Zhou Yi initially?

Ji Yongshu still couldn’t quite believe it. She’d never known someone who supposedly liked her yet could remain ambiguous with her fiancée.

She then thought, what if this was just the omega’s scheme?

After all, apart from the Ji family, Jiang Zhiluo was probably the one who most wanted Ji Yongshu to differentiate into an Alpha.

Once Ji Yongshu successfully differentiated, her engagement with Zhou Yi would undoubtedly be called off.

It wasn’t impossible that Jiang Zhiluo, to ensure Ji Yongshu and Zhou Yi broke up, had temporarily endured hardship to help her through her differentiation.

Thinking this way, Ji Yongshu’s mood instantly calmed.

She would rather believe this was the truth than accept that Jiang Zhiluo genuinely liked her.

Still, what happened last night was undeniably awkward.

Since it was generally assumed that Alphas wouldn’t remember what happened during their Heat Period, Ji Yongshu decided to pretend she recalled nothing.

She rubbed her head, propping herself up with one hand on the bed, when her fingers suddenly brushed against something soft.

Ji Yongshu looked down—it was the orange plushie Jiang Zhiluo had given her.

She had tucked it under the covers last night and slept hugging it all night. Now, the plushie was soaked in the scent of sweet peaches, the tea fragrance so faint it was almost imperceptible.

Frowning, Ji Yongshu clutched the plushie, and a few fragmented images flashed through her mind.

Had she… kissed this plushie last night?

And in front of Jiang Zhiluo, no less.

The thought made her feel like she was holding a hot potato.

No more thinking—the more she dwelled on it, the more embarrassing it became!

She couldn’t possibly return the plushie to Jiang Zhiluo like this. Regardless of what the other might think, Ji Yongshu herself couldn’t bear the memory of her own actions.

She washed the plushie thoroughly. When she first received it, she hadn’t inspected it closely, but now, while cleaning it, she noticed a small note attached to its side with a familiar name written on it.

Ji Yongshu searched her memory, her frown deepening. Wasn’t this the arcade where she had once played the claw machine?

She could even recall the exact location of that claw machine shop.

Had Jiang Zhiluo gotten this plushie from the same place?

The world really was too small.

But on second thought, it wasn’t that surprising. Though City S was glamorous, its famous attractions were limited, so it made sense Jiang Zhiluo had been there.

Yes, perfectly normal.

Having convinced herself, Ji Yongshu continued washing the plushie until only the faint scent of laundry detergent remained.

After hanging it to dry in the sunlight, she took another shower.

Last night had been too chaotic—she had sweated profusely. Thankfully, she had been too out of it to care, sleeping through the night under the covers.

Without calling for the maid, Ji Yongshu changed the bedsheets herself. Only after tidying up did she finally check her phone.

Jiang Zhiluo had hung up after Ji Yongshu fell asleep last night. The only record left was the call log—no messages, no explanations.

Ji Yongshu pressed her lips together, her fingers hovering over the screen as she typed a few words, then deleted them.

What could she even say in this situation?

In the end, she only sent a question mark.

If she was going to pretend to have amnesia, then she shouldn’t remember when she had called Jiang Zhiluo. This was the most appropriate response.

After sending the message, Ji Yongshu headed downstairs with her phone in hand.

Bai Yingying had woken up early and was now sitting on the living room sofa.

“Yongyong!” She stepped forward, scrutinizing Ji Yongshu’s expression. “How are you feeling?”

Ji Yongshu hadn’t opened her door all last night, which had frightened Bai Yingying terribly.

“Not bad.”

Though the process had been somewhat complicated, at least the outcome was what she wanted.

Bai Yingying had experienced an Alpha’s Heat Period before. Whenever Ji Fengchu entered his Heat Period, he would become as unreasonable as a child.

If his Omega wasn’t by his side, he would cry endlessly—who knew where all those tears came from?

At this thought, Bai Yingying couldn’t help but glance at Ji Yongshu’s eyelids, indeed noticing some redness and swelling in her daughter’s eyes.

It seemed she had cried last night.

Bai Yingying knew Ji Yongshu had brought back an orange plush toy last night. At the time, she had been somewhat skeptical—could this thing really help Ji Yongshu through her Heat Period?

Now it seemed she had worried too much.

Bai Yingying had no idea what had actually happened last night. Seeing her daughter unharmed, she felt relieved.

“Mom, have the doctor come today to run some tests for me.”

Ji Yongshu lowered her head to sip her porridge slowly, her long lashes veiling the emotions in her eyes.

“I want to know how much longer this Heat Period will last.”

She didn’t want to relive last night’s embarrassing experience.

One such black mark in her history was enough.

Bai Yingying didn’t think much of it, simply nodding as she placed a steamed dumpling in Ji Yongshu’s bowl. “I’ll call them to come over later.”

Ji Yongshu rubbed her throbbing head. “Alright.”

After breakfast, she sat on the living room sofa to bask in the sunlight while handling some work.

Even if she didn’t need to go to the office during this time, certain important documents still required her confirmation and signature.

Xie Yangqing would also bring her some files periodically.

Speak of the devil—Ji Yongshu had barely started working when Xie Yangqing arrived, bringing news about Zhou Yi along with him.

“You asked me to arrange surveillance on Miss Zhou Yi. Just as you predicted, she hasn’t been doing well lately.”

Bai Yingying wasn’t in the living room, so Xie Yangqing spoke without restraint.

“Never mind the Zhou family’s attitude—just the rumors circulating outside are enough to give her a hard time.”

A faint smile curled Ji Yongshu’s lips. “She deserves it.”

Zhou Yi cared deeply about face. Previously, those people hadn’t dared to confront her directly, all because they thought Zhou Yi might one day inherit both the Zhou and Ji families.

Everyone believed Zhou Yi was the true power behind both families.

What a pipe dream!

The Zhou family’s affairs were none of her concern, but no one would lay a finger on the Ji family’s assets!

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Ji Yongshu’s eyes. Xie Yangqing noted it calmly, long accustomed to such moments.

People often said Ji Yongshu was like a patch of snow atop a high mountain, exuding an air of cool elegance—a little princess born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

But they failed to consider: how could someone who managed the Ji family as an Omega be easily bullied?

Zhou Yi had underestimated Ji Yongshu, and so had everyone else.

That’s why they never imagined Ji Yongshu not only had ways to make Zhou Yi suffer but could also ensure Zhou Yi wouldn’t dare retaliate afterward.

Not to mention she had now differentiated into a high-ranking Alpha…

The thought had just flashed through Xie Yangqing’s mind when Ji Yongshu spoke up, “By the way.”

“Has Zhou Yi gone to see Jiang Zhiluo?”