After Differentiating into an Alpha, I Marked My Love Rival - Chapter 4

Ji Yongshu walked in and came out seemingly unchanged, yet something was subtly off about her.

Her long hair, previously neatly cascading down her back, was now slightly disheveled, with a few loose strands framing her face, lending her an air of lazy nonchalance.

But most glaringly, before she went in, her neck had been completely unmarked—so how had these red marks suddenly appeared?

Meng Chuyu was burning with curiosity but didn’t dare ask.

When she’d heard Ji Yongshu’s voice earlier, she’d thought nothing was wrong. But who had left these marks on her neck?

No wonder Ji Yongshu had been scowling ever since she stepped out. Anyone in her shoes would be in a foul mood.

After standing in the cold breeze for a while, the fire burning inside Ji Yongshu finally subsided a little. She swept her hair back and exhaled deeply.

Lost in her thoughts, she had nearly forgotten Meng Chuyu was still behind her. She turned and caught her friend sneaking furtive glances at her.

Ji Yongshu: ?

“What are you looking at?”

Caught red-handed, Meng Chuyu stiffened awkwardly. She rubbed her hands together and, seeing Ji Yongshu’s expression had softened slightly, ventured cautiously, “Was Zhou Yi not there when you went in?”

Ji Yongshu’s brows furrowed. “Didn’t I already tell you?”

Meng Chuyu knew—she just wanted to confirm. After Ji Yongshu’s response, she pointed at her neck and admitted, “Then, the marks on your neck…”

Had Ji Yongshu gone to confront a cheating lover, only to end up being taken advantage of herself?

The moment the question left her lips, Meng Chuyu met Ji Yongshu’s deathly glare. Those peach-blossom eyes burned with unmistakable murderous intent, as if she were contemplating how to silence her for good.

Meng Chuyu shuddered and immediately backtracked. “N-no, nothing! I must’ve imagined it!”

Who was she to pry into Young Miss Ji’s affairs?

Annoyed beyond measure, Ji Yongshu touched her neck, as if she could still feel Jiang Zhiluo’s lips pressed against her skin.

The sting. The maddening tingle.

Accompanied by the faint, bitter fragrance of tea.

Her expression tightened, teeth clenched so hard they might shatter. She cursed her own restraint—she should’ve slapped that little green tea b1tch when she had the chance!

Suppressing her fury, Ji Yongshu straightened her back, bag in hand, and strode forward with unshaken dignity, leaving Meng Chuyu behind as if the marks on her neck meant nothing.

Meng Chuyu rubbed her chin, lost in thought for a long moment before suddenly shuddering. She shook her head violently, banishing whatever terrifying idea had crossed her mind.

With those marks still visible, Ji Yongshu decided against returning to the Ji family estate that night and had her driver take her to one of her apartments instead.

Exhausted from the day’s events, she kicked off her shoes haphazardly at the entrance, tossed her bag onto the side table, and headed straight for the bathroom.

She’d known the marks on her neck were likely noticeable, but seeing her reflection clearly in the mirror only stoked her rage further.

The slender neck was dotted with faint red marks, trailing from the chin all the way to the collarbone, carrying an indescribable air of intimacy.

Just seeing these marks, Ji Yongshu could vividly recall how Jiang Zhiluo had pinned her down in the private room, leaving those love bites.

Furious, she couldn’t help but scrub her neck hard while showering, until the skin turned red. Only then did she calm down.

Why should she punish herself like this? Clearly, it was all that little green tea b1tch Jiang Zhiluo’s fault!

After stepping out of the shower, Ji Yongshu wrapped herself in a towel, water droplets trickling from her hair down her skin and into the fabric.

Completely oblivious to this minor detail, she rummaged through her bag for her phone, making a call while heading to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.

After two rings, the call connected.

“Miss Ji?” A young man’s voice answered.

As hot water filled the glass, Ji Yongshu’s mood gradually settled. The apartment was so quiet that her voice carried clearly to the other end.

“It’s me.” She paused briefly before continuing, “There’s something I need you to handle.”

“Go ahead.” The man’s tone was neither subservient nor arrogant, warm yet respectful.

Ji Yongshu picked up the glass, taking a few sips to soothe her throat before speaking firmly, “Xie Yangqing, I want you to investigate someone for me.”

“Zhou Yi’s affair partner—her name is Jiang Zhiluo.”

She spoke of Zhou Yi’s infidelity without hesitation, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter.

Xie Yangqing had been assigned to Ji Yongshu by her father, a trusted confidant of the Ji family. Since Ji Yongshu graduated from university at twenty-one and joined the company, he had been by her side.

Ji Yongshu never doubted his competence nor his discretion, so she saw no reason to hide anything from him.

True to form, Xie Yangqing asked no questions, only inquiring, “Is this urgent?”

A cold snort escaped Ji Yongshu’s lips, her displeasure evident even over the phone.

Xie Yangqing could tell—Miss Ji must have been humiliated by her rival or wronged by her fiancée, Zhou Yi, prompting this late-night call.

The thought flickered through his mind before he suppressed it.

“I’ll send her information to your email as soon as possible,” he promised.

Only then did Ji Yongshu feel somewhat satisfied. “Don’t tell my father yet.”

Xie Yangqing agreed, “Understood.”

After hanging up, Ji Yongshu sank into the sofa, crossing her legs and leaning back as she mulled over Jiang Zhiluo and Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi must still be in the private room. She had clearly seen her enter—there was no way she could have vanished into thin air.

Recalling the scene, Ji Yongshu realized she had only taken a quick glance upon entering, barely registering the room’s layout. Perhaps she had overlooked something.

Then, the unexpected incident had derailed her thoughts entirely, leaving no room to dwell on Zhou Yi.

Only now, in the quiet of the night, could she finally reflect on everything that had happened.

Catching an affair, Zhou Wan’s disappearance, Jiang Zhiluo entering her heat cycle—these events seemed to have some special connection, yet also appeared to be mere coincidences.

Meng Chuyu had been her childhood friend; there was no way she would harm her. The problem likely didn’t lie with Meng Chuyu.

Zhou Wan was the least innocent one. Ji Yongshu had personally seen her go upstairs, clearly intending to meet someone.

Could Jiang Zhiluo’s heat be related to Zhou Wan?

A high-ranking omega had fallen into heat, while Zhou Wan, a high-ranking alpha, had vanished. Did that make any sense?

After much deliberation, Ji Yongshu still found Jiang Zhiluo the most suspicious.

Though Jiang Zhiluo seemed like nothing more than a defenseless omega, Ji Yongshu couldn’t shake the feeling that the other woman must know something.

It seemed she would have to make time to meet that omega who had tried to steal her partner.

Ji Yongshu sighed, suddenly noticing the burning heat at the back of her neck again.

She pressed a fingertip against her scent gland, and a rich peach fragrance filled the air, raising the temperature in the living room slightly.

Ji Yongshu frowned. What was happening to her?