After Differentiating into an Alpha, I Marked My Love Rival - Chapter 29

Ji Yongshu led the Omega, who was draped in a small blazer, downstairs through the back entrance. She wasn’t sure if Zhou Yi had stationed people at the front door of the bar.

 

If possible, Ji Yongshu didn’t want to confront Zhou Yi infront of a crowd just yet.

 

Not only because her relationship with Zhou Yi was complicated—any careless action could be posted online and fuel public speculation—but also because she had Jiang Zhiluo with her. The Omega was currently in an emotionally unstable state and couldn’t afford further delays.

 

Ji Yongshu had visited this bar many times and naturally knew where the main entrance was. But she hadn’t expected that, just as she pushed open the back door with the Omega, she’d immediately see a figure standing in the darkness.

 

Ji Yongshu’s footsteps paused, the sound of her high heels clicking against the floor vanishing. Jiang Zhiluo, walking behind her, nearly bumped into her back.

 

“Sister?”

 

The back corridor was narrow, so Jiang Zhiluo hadn’t noticed the person standing ahead. She only called out to Ji Yongshu in slight confusion.

 

Ji Yongshu remained silent, but Zhou Yi, standing about two meters away, let out a cold laugh. “Sister? How affectionate!”

 

Hearing the familiar voice, Jiang Zhiluo instinctively tightened her grip on Ji Yongshu’s clothes and cautiously peeked out from behind her, meeting Zhou Yi’s gaze.

 

Perhaps because Ji Yongshu was present, Jiang Zhiluo didn’t seem as frightened as before. Her voice sounded relatively calm as she said, “Zhou Yi, you followed me.”

 

Zhou Yi spat out a scoff, glaring at the Alpha and Omega before her as if they were mortal enemies. “If you hadn’t done anything wrong, why would you be afraid of me following you?”

 

Compared to Ji Yongshu, Zhou Yi hated Jiang Zhiluo even more. After all, she had genuinely liked Jiang Zhiluo at one point—even entertained the thought of proposing to her after breaking off her engagement with Ji Yongshu.

 

But this woman had ruthlessly played with her feelings. It was Jiang Zhiluo who had been ambiguous in the beginning, yet in the end, all the blame fell on Zhou Yi!

 

Just thinking about how pathetically she had once fawned over Jiang Zhiluo made Zhou Yi’s face twist with fury.

 

Ji Yongshu had seen right through her—Zhou Yi cared deeply about her pride. To her, losing face was even harder to bear than emotional wounds.

 

Rather than resenting Jiang Zhiluo for rejecting her confession, she was more furious about the humiliation she had suffered in front of Jiang Zhiluo.

 

Jiang Zhiluo stayed silent. She could tell Zhou Yi was on the verge of a breakdown, teetering between rage and despair, and it wasn’t the time to provoke her further.

 

It was Ji Yongshu who spoke up leisurely, “Whether she’s done anything wrong or not, you shouldn’t have followed her.”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Zhiluo’s heart skipped a beat, and a flicker of panic flashed through her eyes. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Ji Yongshu’s words carried a hidden meaning.

 

But Ji Yongshu didn’t dwell on whether Jiang Zhiluo had done anything wrong. Jiang Zhiluo preferred to believe Ji Yongshu’s remark had been offhand.

 

She knew her schemes weren’t particularly clever—Ji Yongshu had likely seen through her intentions long ago. But what did it matter?

 

Whether Ji Yongshu had figured it out or not, the end result was still what Jiang Zhiluo wanted.

 

Even if Ji Yongshu had already found out, she was still willing to play along, wasn’t she?

 

Thinking this, Jiang Zhiluo slowly loosened the fingers gripping the hem of her clothes. She took a silent deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

 

Then she heard Ji Yongshu’s cold voice: “Zhou Yi, using pheromones to coerce an Omega, stalking an Omega—is there anything you wouldn’t do?”

 

After a pause, Ji Yongshu’s tone grew slightly sharper as she warned, “Do you no longer want your position as the Zhou family’s heir?”

 

Zhou Yi’s face twisted in fury. What she hated most was how Ji Yongshu always acted as if she held the moral high ground, righteously condemning her when she had done nothing wrong.

 

Even when the two of them called off their engagement, public opinion online was full of mockery directed at her.

 

How could Ji Yongshu walk away completely unscathed?

 

“Ji Yongshu, don’t act like this is all my fault.”

 

Zhou Yi stared fixedly into Ji Yongshu’s eyes, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists at her sides. “When exactly did you undergo secondary differentiation into an Alpha?”

 

Zhou Yi had indeed been stunned by the news of Ji Yongshu’s secondary differentiation into an Alpha. The fact that her Omega fiancée had differentiated into an Alpha of a higher rank than her was a heavy blow.

 

Because of this, she hadn’t even considered when Ji Yongshu might have undergone this change. It was only after telling Xie Xi about it that Xie Xi pointed it out.

 

“The process of secondary differentiation usually takes a long time—sometimes months. How could Ji Yongshu have differentiated into an Alpha in just a few days?”

 

The words jolted Zhou Yi awake.

 

She suddenly remembered that when she first confronted Ji Yongshu, the latter had refused to forgive her no matter what, insisting on breaking off their engagement.

 

At the time, she had even tried to use her pheromones to force Ji Yongshu to submit, but instead of being affected, she was the one intimidated by Ji Yongshu’s gaze.

 

Looking back now, it might not have been Ji Yongshu’s glare that frightened her, but the pheromones emanating from Ji Yongshu, who had already begun her secondary differentiation.

 

If this were the case, it would explain why Ji Yongshu had been so adamant about ending their engagement, leaving no room for negotiation.

 

From both a rational and emotional standpoint, Ji Yongshu had no choice but to break it off.

 

If so, this wasn’t her fault at all—she had been completely manipulated by Ji Yongshu!

 

The only problem was that Zhou Yi had realized this too late. Ji Yongshu had already successfully differentiated into an Alpha, and she had no concrete evidence to prove that Ji Yongshu had begun her secondary differentiation before her own infidelity.

 

The Xie family had also advised her not to act rashly. After all, Ji Yongshu had already completed her differentiation, and unless absolutely necessary, they didn’t want to provoke an SS-rank Alpha.

 

This world did favor Alphas—the higher the rank, the more privileges they enjoyed beyond what ordinary people could access.

 

Zhou Yi had once taken pride in her S-rank status, but now, she could only resent not having differentiated into an SS-rank herself.

 

Even confronting Ji Yongshu now felt like she had no real ground to stand on.

 

Ji Yongshu knew she was being tested, worried that Zhou Yi might have used a recording device, so she didn’t answer Zhou Yi’s question directly.

 

“Zhou Yi, are you trying to shift the blame onto me again now?”

 

“Wasn’t it you who betrayed me first?”

 

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi immediately shot a vicious glare at Jiang Zhiluo behind Ji Yongshu, only to catch the faint smirk on the Omega’s lips.

 

The Omega was shielded by the cold-faced woman, revealing only her delicate features. She was draped in the woman’s small blazer, appearing gentle and harmless—

 

If one ignored the amused expression on her face.

 

Zhou Yi suddenly realized she might have been fooled by Jiang Zhiluo. This woman was anything but gentle and harmless.

 

Was she mocking her?

 

Mocking her for chasing after her like a fool, only to end up with nothing.

 

Zhou Yi cursed sharply, “You fucking—!”

 

She suddenly charged forward with a wooden stick, and it was only then that Ji Yongshu noticed Zhou Yi had been hiding a weapon behind her back.

 

Ji Yongshu stood at the front, and the narrow passage left her no room to dodge.

 

Caught off guard, the Omega behind her abruptly shoved her aside and took the blow from Zhou Yi’s swing.

 

Ji Yongshu staggered, her shoulder slamming into the wall, but she had no time to tend to the pain. In that instant, she released her pheromones, surging toward Zhou Yi like a tidal wave.

 

But it was still too late. The stick struck the Omega’s arm with a dull thud. Ji Yongshu heard Jiang Zhiluo cry out in pain before her body crumpled toward her.

 

She quickly caught the unsteady Omega in her arms, then swiftly kicked out, her high-heeled shoe landing squarely in Zhou Yi’s abdomen.

 

Zhou Yi had only managed to hit Jiang Zhiluo by sheer surprise. Now, crushed under Ji Yongshu’s pheromones, she could barely stand, let alone dodge the kick.

 

Ji Yongshu didn’t hold back. The sharp heel of her shoe dug deep as she stomped into Zhou Yi’s stomach. With a pained grunt, Zhou Yi stumbled back and collapsed onto the ground!

 

Her grip loosened, and the wooden stick clattered to the floor, rolling a few times before stopping at Ji Yongshu’s feet.

 

The back door of the bar led to a dimly lit alley. Beyond it lay the bustling, vibrant streets.

 

In the distance, the voices of pedestrians and the roar of passing cars could still be heard.

 

But the sounds seemed severed by the dim light, leaving the alley eerily silent—save for the ragged breaths of the three.

 

Jiang Zhiluo, an Omega raised like a delicate flower in a greenhouse, was fragile and weak. She couldn’t withstand the full force of Zhou Yi’s strike.

 

The pain left her speechless. Beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead, her lips bitten white, her body trembling uncontrollably.

 

Ji Yongshu only dared to lightly support her waist with one hand, afraid to touch her injured arm.

 

She wasn’t sure if Jiang Zhiluo had broken a bone.

 

Ji Yongshu had never been this furious in her life!

 

The omega had suffered such severe injuries right in front of her, all to protect her!

 

Zhou Yi endured Ji Yongshu’s frenzied, icy wrath. The surging pheromones felt like sharp blades, tearing at her skin as if trying to slice her body apart inch by inch.

 

Could any pain be worse than being flayed alive?

 

Not only that, but with every breath Zhou Yi took, she felt her airways threatening to split open. She tried to hold her breath, only to be met with the suffocating agony of oxygen deprivation.

 

This inescapable torment made Zhou Yi wish she could knock herself unconscious.

 

She collapsed onto the ground, her back against the hard wall, her entire body covered in grimy black filth, a picture of utter wretchedness.

 

But Zhou Yi had no energy left to care about how disheveled she looked. She clawed at her own hair, tearing out clumps of it in desperation.

 

Yet the unbearable pain showed no sign of relenting. Zhou Yi suddenly threw her head back, slamming the back of her skull hard against the wall.

 

“Ahhhhhh!”

 

A hoarse scream tore from her throat, but the sound was weak—more like the death rattle of someone on the verge of demise—as her body was wracked with too much pain to muster volume.

 

Ji Yongshu watched coldly as Zhou Yi writhed in agony, banging her head against the wall. The Alpha who had once been so domineering was now reduced to this state, screaming with her mouth wide open, completely oblivious to any onlookers around.

 

Zhou Yi had always enjoyed using her pheromones to suppress others. With her S-grade superiority, she had rarely met her match.

 

She took pleasure in watching others writhe in pain under the pressure of her pheromones—their contorted expressions more horrifying than those of drug addicts in withdrawal—treating it all as entertainment.

 

But perhaps even Zhou Yi herself had never imagined that one day, she would find herself in the same predicament.

 

Karma had come full circle.

 

Ji Yongshu still wasn’t satisfied, but Jiang Zhiluo’s injuries couldn’t wait. She could only shoot Zhou Yi one last venomous glare, thinking how lucky the woman was to get off so lightly.

 

No matter. She’d settle the score with Zhou Yi slowly, in due time.

 

Ji Yongshu supported Jiang Zhiluo, noticing how the omega was on the verge of passing out from the pain. Carefully, she bent down, sliding one arm beneath Jiang Zhiluo’s knees and lifting her into her arms.

 

Jiang Zhiluo whimpered in pain, her face streaked with tears. The agony was so overwhelming she couldn’t even speak, barely managing to crack her eyes open to glance at Ji Yongshu before biting down hard on her lip, refusing to make another sound.

 

Ji Yongshu pressed her lips together, her jaw clenched so tightly her teeth nearly shattered.

 

She knew Jiang Zhiluo was in pain—that even the slightest movement would exacerbate it—but there was no other choice. They had to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

 

When she had first brought the omega out of the restroom, Ji Yongshu had already called her driver.

 

After carrying Jiang Zhiluo out of the alley and turning right, she spotted the car parked not far away, the driver standing by the door waiting for them.

 

The Ji family’s drivers were always discreet. Even upon seeing his young mistress carrying an unfamiliar omega out of the bar’s back entrance, the man’s expression remained unchanged as he swiftly opened the rear door.

 

Ji Yongshu carefully placed Jiang Zhiluo onto the seat, but despite her utmost caution, the movement still jostled the wound on the omega’s arm.

 

Perhaps afraid of worrying her, the Omega was clenching her teeth tightly, refusing to make a sound despite her face being deathly pale from the pain.

 

Ji Yongshu knew that any words she said now would be meaningless. She urged the driver to hurry to the hospital while keeping her eyes fixed on Jiang Zhiluo, not missing any subtle reaction from the Omega.

 

Jiang Zhiluo was in too much pain to speak, but remembering Ji Yongshu’s concern, she turned to look at the woman beside her and forced a smile. “Sister, don’t worry.”

 

Ji Yongshu pressed her lips together, replying only after a few seconds, “I know. Don’t speak if it hurts.”

 

Jiang Zhiluo gazed at her deeply, as if she had much to say, but in the end, only whispered very softly, “I’m sorry.”

 

She knew Zhou Yi wasn’t a good person, yet she still wanted to use Zhou Yi to provoke Ji Yongshu. That was the first mistake she made.

 

The second mistake was that since she chose to use Zhou Yi, she should have been fully prepared instead of scrambling to react when things went wrong.

 

Jiang Zhiluo didn’t dare to imagine what would have happened if she hadn’t pushed Ji Yongshu away—that blow from Zhou Yi would have landed on Ji Yongshu instead.

 

Better it hit her than Ji Yongshu.

 

Jiang Zhiluo suddenly felt relieved that she was the one injured today.

 

If Ji Yongshu had been hurt, she would never have been able to face her again.

 

She would have hated herself to death.

 

Closing her eyes slowly, she felt overwhelming regret for this poorly thought-out plan.

 

She shouldn’t have come up with the idea to use Zhou Yi to provoke Ji Yongshu after discovering Zhou Yi was following her.

 

Jiang Zhiluo had always believed she could handle Zhou Yi and would never let her harm her sister, but she hadn’t accounted for the unexpected.

 

From now on, she would absolutely, absolutely never do anything that might hurt her sister again.

 

After hearing Jiang Zhiluo’s apology, Ji Yongshu lightly tapped her fingers twice on her lap but didn’t respond.

 

She didn’t seem surprised by Jiang Zhiluo’s apology.

 

Ji Yongshu hadn’t actually thought that much about it. She was just annoyed with herself—knowing Zhou Yi was no good, she shouldn’t have wasted words on her earlier.

 

In fact, Zhou Yi’s sudden outburst was partly due to what Ji Yongshu had said.

 

She reminded herself not to act impulsively, but she didn’t regret kicking Zhou Yi.

 

Wearing high heels, that kick had been delivered with full force—Zhou Yi’s injuries were surely severe.

 

Yet Ji Yongshu still felt unsatisfied.

 

Zhou Yi had struck first, and she was also the first to use Pheromones.

 

If Ji Yongshu hadn’t differentiated into an Alpha, or if her level had been lower than Zhou Yi’s, she might have been the one writhing in pain, wishing to bang her head against the wall.

 

Zhou Yi had intended to use Pheromones to force her submission from the very beginning. Ji Yongshu was merely giving her a taste of her own medicine.

 

It was time Zhou Yi experienced what it felt like to be attacked by Pheromones.

 

Thinking of this, Ji Yongshu unlocked her phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message to a contact labeled “ylc”:
Remember to send me the surveillance footage.
I need both the second-floor hallway and the back door.

 

Two minutes later, the other party replied: “Got it, Miss Ji. Please wait a moment.”

 

After waiting another five minutes, Ji Yongshu received a compressed file from them.

 

She downloaded the video first before putting away her phone, planning to watch it later when she had time.

 

She didn’t entirely believe Jiang Zhiluo’s words—everything seemed far too coincidental.

 

When Jiang Zhiluo sent the video saying she was going to sleep, Ji Yongshu was already on her way to the bar. Yet not long after she arrived, she saw Jiang Zhiluo sitting at the central bar counter.

 

Even at the fastest speed, it would take at least twenty minutes to get from Jiang Zhiluo’s home to the bar. The timing was clearly too rushed.

 

This suggested the video was likely pre-recorded.

 

But why couldn’t she just tell the truth? Why go through the trouble of filming a video to deceive Ji Yongshu?

 

And if she really just wanted a drink, why would a lone Omega choose the most conspicuous spot?

 

Ji Yongshu knew Jiang Zhiluo probably wasn’t being honest, but she didn’t feel like dwelling on it right now.

 

She had already guessed why Jiang Zhiluo had done this.

 

But none of this was forced upon her. Ji Yongshu was well aware that if she truly didn’t want to give Jiang Zhiluo a temporary mark, she could have refused outright.

 

Jiang Zhiluo might have used a small trick, but if Ji Yongshu hadn’t played along, the plan would have been meaningless.

 

At this thought, a saying suddenly surfaced in Ji Yongshu’s mind:

 

A fish bites the hook because the bait is tempting enough.

 

She sighed softly, but Jiang Zhiluo happened to hear it. The Omega, struggling to stay awake, lifted her eyelids slightly and whispered, “Sister, talk to me, please?”

 

Ji Yongshu set her phone aside and turned to meet her gaze. When her eyes swept over Jiang Zhiluo’s pale face, undisguised worry flickered in them. “We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

 

Jiang Zhiluo, unable to move her arm, had been sitting stiffly in the same position, her body practically numb. She shifted her legs slightly—a pitifully small movement.

 

“It doesn’t hurt as much as before.”

 

Perhaps the pain had dulled, but Jiang Zhiluo actually felt slightly better than earlier. What bothered her more was being unable to move.

 

Ji Yongshu studied her for a few seconds before suddenly leaning down and pressing a hand against the Omega’s calf, her fingers kneading the tense muscles to ease the stiffness.

 

After a few presses, she looked up at Jiang Zhiluo and asked softly, “Is this okay?”

 

She had already done it.

 

Whether it was okay or not made little difference.

 

Besides, Jiang Zhiluo could never refuse her.

 

Two faint blushes bloomed on the Omega’s pale cheeks. Instead of relaxing, her calf tensed even more under the massage.

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.

 

Ji Yongshu continued massaging the stiff muscles with just the right pressure, forcing Jiang Zhiluo to relax. Her calf soon felt weak and sore, completely drained of strength.

 

She could distinctly feel Ji Yongshu’s fingertips pressing into her calf, working the muscles beneath.

 

The places where their skin touched seemed about to burst into flames. Jiang Zhiluo still had the presence of mind to think—thank goodness she was naturally light on body hair and regularly went for beauty treatments. Her skin was as smooth as a peeled egg all over.

 

What a relief she hadn’t embarrassed herself in front of her sister.

 

Ji Yongshu, however, was thinking that the Omega’s calves were too slender, and her whole body was petite and delicate, so fragile that it seemed a gust of wind could blow her away.

 

She’s too thin. She should eat more and gain a little weight.

 

Ji Yongshu massaged Jiang Zhiluo’s legs attentively for a while until the Omega turned her head and noticed the hospital was almost in sight. Then, she gently withdrew her leg and said softly, “That’s enough, sister. We’re almost at the hospital.”

 

Ji Yongshu naturally retracted her hand, her gaze lingering on Jiang Zhiluo’s swollen ankle. “I’ll carry you inside.”

 

Jiang Zhiluo licked her dry lips and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

 

Ji Yongshu carried her to the emergency room, where the examination revealed that Jiang Zhiluo’s arm indeed had a minor fracture. The area struck by the wooden stick was completely swollen, the skin bruised purple-red and raised high.

 

Ji Yongshu was startled. Earlier, Jiang Zhiluo had still been able to talk to her, so she hadn’t thought the injury was this severe. But upon seeing the wound, she realized Jiang Zhiluo might just be exceptionally good at enduring pain.

 

Since it was uncertain whether Jiang Zhiluo would develop a fever later, the doctor recommended hospitalization for observation and treatment. Ji Yongshu then had the driver arrange a private room.

 

By the time the wound was properly treated, it was almost midnight.

 

Ji Yongshu had been holding onto Jiang Zhiluo’s phone the whole time and only handed it back when the Omega was settled in the hospital bed.

 

“Someone called you twice earlier.”

 

Jiang Zhiluo unlocked the screen with her uninjured hand and saw two missed calls—from her bodyguard.

 

“Sister, my bodyguard will be coming soon. It’s late, you should go back and rest.”

 

Ji Yongshu remained seated by the bed, unmoving. “Which bodyguard?”

 

Jiang Zhiluo: “The one who usually follows me.”

 

Ji Yongshu hummed in acknowledgment but still didn’t get up to leave.

 

She reached over to tuck the blanket around Jiang Zhiluo. “Rest if you’re tired.”

 

She didn’t say whether she was leaving or staying—or when.

 

Not getting a clear answer, Jiang Zhiluo grew anxious. She tapped her phone absentmindedly, pretending to look at something while stealing glances at Ji Yongshu from the corner of her eye.

 

Ji Yongshu noticed all these little actions. She knew the Omega was waiting for her to say, “I won’t leave,” but she deliberately remained silent.

 

Left with no choice, Jiang Zhiluo spoke again, “I’ll sleep soon. You should go back and rest too.”

 

Hearing this, Ji Yongshu finally stood up. “Alright.”

 

Jiang Zhiluo froze, her fingers tightening around her phone. A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she said nothing, just gazing at Ji Yongshu pitifully.

 

She looked like an abandoned puppy—longing for her owner to stay but feigning rejection, her drooping ears and tail betraying her true feelings.

 

Ji Yongshu smiled faintly, looking down at her. “Didn’t you tell me to leave?”

 

Jiang Zhiluo hesitated before whispering, “I just didn’t want to trouble you.”

 

She admitted that she still wanted to test Ji Yongshu, but instead ended up being teased by her. However, the Alpha didn’t seem angry at all.

 

Even though her little schemes had been seen through, Jiang Zhiluo still felt a sweet warmth in her chest.

 

Ji Yongshu sat back down, the amusement in her eyes fading as she said softly, “I won’t leave. Go to sleep.”

 

Only then did Jiang Zhiluo slowly close her eyes, only to peek open a tiny slit moments later. Seeing Ji Yongshu still sitting beside her, she finally drifted off to sleep, reassured.

 

Once Jiang Zhiluo was sound asleep, Ji Yongshu stood up and walked silently to the hospital room door, taking a pair of earphones from the driver.

 

She returned to the bedside, put on the earphones, and clicked on the video she had just downloaded.

 

Dragging the progress bar to the two-minute mark, a figure that Ji Yongshu found extremely familiar finally appeared on the screen.

 

It was Jiang Zhiluo.