After The Mission Failed, The Scumbag Alpha Ran Away - Chapter 10

10: Miss Lou, Is This Your First Time as an Omega?

Jiang Youbai and the professor locked eyes from across the classroom, enduring the professor’s accusatory gaze.

Even though she was a seasoned veteran, she couldn’t withstand the professor’s furious glare.

After Lou Huaiche viciously bit Jiang Youbai, she seemed much more energized, holding Jiang Youbai’s hand and eagerly eyeing it, ready to take a second bite.

Her expression was excited, as if some primal instinct had been awakened.

Jiang Youbai suspected that Lou Huaiche might have been an Alpha before and was now experiencing her first time as an Omega—probably not very skilled at it yet.

Finally making it through the class, Jiang Youbai half-dragged, half-carried Lou Huaiche to a small grove in the campus park under the professor’s wrathful gaze.

Lou Huaiche let herself be dragged along, her demeanor surprisingly docile.

Once they reached the park, Lou Huaiche glanced around and, seeing no one nearby, suddenly turned aggressive. She pinned Jiang Youbai to the ground and, to prevent any resistance, even picked up a rock, weighing it in her hand as if considering knocking Jiang Youbai out.

Jiang Youbai stared at the rock, which was half the size of her head, and paled. “Lou Huaiche!”

If that rock came down, she’d be checking into the morgue tomorrow.

Jiang Youbai’s scream was so desperate that Lou Huaiche silently put the rock back on the ground.

Kneeling over Jiang Youbai, Lou Huaiche studied her for a moment before delivering a concise evaluation: “Not bad-looking.”

Then she leaned down and began sniffing lightly at Jiang Youbai’s neck, like a vicious wild beast sizing up its prey, ready to sink its teeth in.

Lou Huaiche sniffed carefully, pressing Jiang Youbai firmly beneath her, occasionally nuzzling her affectionately.

Jiang Youbai reached out to push her away but was immediately warned by Lou Huaiche in a sharp voice: “Stay still.”

Her Highness the Princess was both exasperated and amused. Seeing that Lou Huaiche was clearly not in her right mind, she had no choice but to let her do as she pleased.

Lou Huaiche, satisfied, nodded approvingly and kissed the gland on Jiang Youbai’s neck. The cool touch of her lips sent a shiver down Jiang Youbai’s spine, the sensation of being stalked by a snake rushing through her.

The scents of two woody fragrances began to permeate the air.

Lou Huaiche’s eyes were hazy, the corners tinged red. Suddenly, she cupped Jiang Youbai’s face, giggled softly, and kissed her lips.

Jiang Youbai’s eyes widened. The warmth on her lips left her momentarily stunned as she stared blankly at a patch of sky visible through the trees.

Her thoughts seemed to sink into a tranquil pool of water.

Their lips and tongues intertwined as they kissed, the air thick with an ambiguous, intoxicating fragrance.

As time passed, Jiang Youbai, unwilling to be restrained, gripped Lou Huaiche’s shoulders, trying to reverse their positions.

Lou Huaiche sensed her intention and retaliated by biting Jiang Youbai’s lip.

The two kissed, embracing intimately, but soon began vying for dominance, neither willing to yield.

The ambiguity turned into a fierce battle.

They nearly came to blows. Lou Huaiche, irritated by Jiang Youbai’s resistance, suddenly grabbed her by the throat and snarled, “Stay still!”

Jiang Youbai sneered, about to fight back, when Lou Huaiche bit down hard on the gland at the back of her neck.

The gland was her weak spot. The sharp pain made Jiang Youbai’s scalp tingle, her teeth clenched. Lou Huaiche bit with all her strength, as if trying to tear through flesh.

Dark spots danced before Jiang Youbai’s eyes. Biting her tongue to stay conscious, she seized the moment Lou Huaiche loosened her grip to shove her away, flipping their positions and sinking her teeth into Lou Huaiche’s gland.

As pheromones slowly seeped into the Omega’s gland, Jiang Youbai sat up, gritting her teeth. “Lou Huaiche! Marking someone isn’t supposed to be this brutal!”

She knew this woman was new to being an Omega—utterly unskilled!

Lou Huaiche narrowed her eyes, her expression defiant. She grabbed Jiang Youbai’s collar, yanked her close, and kissed her again.

The two tangled once more, fighting while kissing, biting each other’s lips and necks.

Neither would yield, both determined to dominate. A temporary mark turned into a battle between enemies—or lovers.

By the time they calmed down, their lips were bruised and bleeding, their mouths filled with the taste of bl00d and pheromones.

Jiang Youbai leaned against the ground, panting. “Are you a dog?”

Lou Huaiche smirked, hissing in pain as she taunted, “Is that all you’ve got?”

The grass around them was flattened from their struggle. After a moment of silence, Jiang Youbai rolled her eyes. “Let’s find time to remove the mark. If we have to fight like this every ten days or so, I can’t afford the embarrassment—even if you can.”

Lou Huaiche raised an eyebrow. “What, scared you can’t beat me?”

Jiang Youbai scoffed, touching the wound on her lip. “Did you come out on top?”

“You didn’t either. We’re evenly matched—no room to talk.”

They traded barbs, and at some point, one of them struck first, leading to another fight. Midway, Jiang Youbai, too furious to hold back, seized an opportunity to pin Lou Huaiche down and kiss her again.

By the time they finished their third round, half of the third class period had already passed. Covered in bl00d, they stood at the classroom door and called out, “Reporting.”

Jiang Youbai looked up and realized it was the same professor’s class.

The professor stood at the lectern, textbook in hand, staring at the Alpha and Omega in shock. His mouth opened and closed several times before he finally managed a restrained, “Come in.”

What in the world—had they gone outside to brawl?

The entire class stared at the two with complicated expressions.

Under dozens of scrutinizing gazes, Jiang Youbai instinctively tried to smile but winced as the motion tugged at her wounded lip.

The two took their seats, one after the other.

Once seated, Jiang Youbai messaged Chi Ruo: “Find a reliable doctor to remove the mark between me and Lou Huaiche.”

Chi Ruo took a while to respond.

“You?”

“And Lou Huaiche?”

“Remove the mark?!”

Jiang Youbai replied, “Long story, but I don’t want to be marked by a rutting, furious Omega again. It hurts.”

Chi Ruo fell silent for several minutes. “Where are you? I’ll pick you up.”

After school, Jiang Youbai and Lou Huaiche, keeping a few steps apart, headed to the side gate together.

Chi Ruo leaned against a hovercar, smoking.

Dressed in a white shirt and faded jeans, she looked like a student straight out of a youth drama—if not for the deeply troubled expression on her face.

When the two approached, Chi Ruo flicked her cigarette ash, looking like she had much to say but couldn’t find the words.

Jiang Youbai, exhausted, said, “Let’s see the doctor first.”

With that, she got into the hovercar.

There were two seats in the front. Lou Huaiche opened the door, glanced inside, and took the back seat, making it clear she had no intention of sitting with Jiang Youbai.

Chi Ruo’s expression was indescribable. Noticing the bloody bite mark on Jiang Youbai’s neck, her thoughts swirled before finally condensing into a sigh. “Sigh.”

Jiang Youbai wanted to sigh too. She was also miserable—she could use a smoke to calm her nerves.

Her physiology teacher had never mentioned that an Alpha could be marked by an Omega.

The hovercar carried three people, each steeped in their own frustration, to the hospital.

The doctor was Chi Ruo’s cousin, also a former subordinate of the Crown Princess. Initially, when Chi Ruo mentioned removing the mark for Her Highness the Princess, he speculated whether the Princess had behaved improperly, using her status to take advantage of some Omega.

But when Jiang Youbai walked in, covered in wounds on her face and neck, the doctor stammered, “Did an Alpha try to mark you?”

Then Lou Huaiche entered.

It was obvious the two had already marked each other. The doctor fell silent.

In the awkward silence, Chi Ruo broke the tension. “Let’s get them checked first.”

The doctor, face wooden, mechanically drew bl00d for routine tests.

When the results came back, he said softly, “The mark can’t be removed.”

“For some Alphas and Omegas whose pheromones are highly compatible, it’s impossible to completely remove the mark. Current technology struggles to fully cleanse the mutual pheromones and may even leave behind sensitivity issues, making future rut symptoms worse.”

Jiang Youbai: “Ha.”

Lou Huaiche sneered. “Scared?”

The two locked eyes. Jiang Youbai touched her battered gland and conceded defeat. “Doctor, Miss Lou seems to have severe mood swings during her rut. Any solutions?”

The doctor stifled a sigh, nearly choking on his own breath. “There’s no good solution for now… Usually, this kind of situation doesn’t… uh, happen. Medication during rut isn’t great for the body either.”

Leaving the hospital without the desired outcome, Jiang Youbai walked out under a cloud of gloom.

Chi Ruo seemed to have misunderstood something. She pulled Jiang Youbai aside and said, “Is this your reason? If so, I can understand.”

Jiang Youbai: “No.”

“It’s fine, I get it. Don’t pressure yourself. I understand.”

“I said no!”

Lou Huaiche shot Jiang Youbai a provocation look, lips curling. “Heh.”

The two parted on bad terms.

The next day, the Emperor summoned Jiang Youbai to the palace. Even his usually gloomy face showed surprise as he stared at the wounds on her face. “Youbai, what’s this? A fight?”

Jiang Youbai forced a smile. “Yes, Your Majesty. I had a disagreement with someone. Neither of us would back down, so we fought.”

The old Emperor looked baffled but eventually waved it off. “Ah, youth. Hot tempers are common. As long as it doesn’t interfere with important matters, it’s fine. You and Qingxian are both of age now. I’m thinking of arranging marriages for you. If there’s an Omega you fancy, let me know.”

Jiang Youbai immediately recalled her fights with Lou Huaiche—the life-or-death a temporary mark filled with animosity.

She wanted to bang her head against a wall.

Though the Emperor had issued the order, the formal decree hadn’t been announced yet. However, households that caught wind of the news began speculating.

The Fourth Princess and the Princess were both young, their status and abilities comparable. Marrying into either family now meant taking sides in the battle for the throne—a gamble that could bring lifelong riches or utter ruin.

But they couldn’t forget the Emperor’s nature—paranoid and domineering. Aligning too early might draw his suspicion, bringing disaster instead of benefits.

The noble families were torn.

The opportunity was too good to pass up, but the risks were equally daunting.

Jiang Youbai watched it all unfold, amused.

Having lived under the Emperor’s rule for twenty years, she knew him well.

His talk of marriage was just a ploy to see which families were restless and which of his children coveted the throne. He’d grown old and somewhat senile, now wary of even his once-favored Alpha child.

In this situation, whoever stuck their neck out would get it chopped off.

Jiang Youbai wanted to bang her head against a wall, but not against the Emperor’s blade.

When Chi Ruo heard about it, she suggested, “Why not join a variety show? For royalty, entering the entertainment industry is undignified. The more absurd you act, the less the Emperor will see you as a threat.”

Jiang Youbai considered it and agreed it was a good idea.

In the twilight of an emperor’s reign, young heirs often downplayed their threat to survive.

The show Jiang Youbai chose was the one listed on Lou Huaiche’s schedule—a long-running outdoor reality series with no script, immensely popular nationwide. Each season produced one or two breakout stars.

As a Princess, appearing on camera was out of the question. So Jiang Youbai used investment and financial management as an excuse to inject funds into the show, dropping by the set daily like clockwork.

The production team was less than thrilled.

A high-ranking noble slumming it in the entertainment industry was a headache. They couldn’t show displeasure, had to ensure her safety, and now had to film under her watchful eye.

Jiang Youbai, oblivious to their discomfort, lingered for days without seeing Lou Huaiche. She finally asked the director, “Is the whole cast here?”

The director, confused, replied, “Of course.”

Jiang Youbai fell into thought. She opened her personal terminal and messaged Lou Huaiche: “Didn’t your schedule say you had an outdoor reality show these days? Why haven’t you shown up even though filming’s started?”

Lou Huaiche replied with ellipses: “……”

Then: “Your Highness, perhaps if you looked closely, you’d notice that schedule listed the show’s air date. I filmed it last year.”

Jiang Youbai: “……”

Well, that was new.

Having made a fool of herself, she pretended nothing happened and casually asked, “Oh, no wonder I didn’t see you around the set. So what are you filming now?”

Lou Huaiche said, “Nothing right now. I’m on a break, focusing on my rut.”

The words “rut period” flashed before Jiang Youbai’s eyes, making the gland on her neck throb as if Lou Huaiche’s teeth were still buried there.

Jiang Youbai replied, “Oh. Good luck with that.”

“Your Highness, an Omega in rut without an Alpha’s mark and comfort will only get worse.”

Jiang Youbai asked, “Do I have to be there in person? Can’t we do it remotely?”

“Probably not.”

Fortunately, the doctor brought good news. According to case studies, Alphas and Omegas who’ve undergone their first marking only needed regular, stable mark for about three months for the rut symptoms to significantly lessen or even disappear.

For Jiang Youbai, who’d developed a serious psychological shadow, this was a relief.

In all recorded history of secondary genders, there had never been an Omega who mauled an Alpha’s gland so viciously.

Once she learned Lou Huaiche wasn’t part of the show, Jiang Youbai stopped her daily visits to the set in the afternoon.

The crew breathed a collective sigh of relief.

That evening, Prime Minister Ning Zuo sent Jiang Youbai an invitation, hinting heavily at a marriage alliance.

Jiang Youbai felt a headache coming on just reading it.

The Prime Minister had many qualities, but his fondness for shady nepotism was his downfall—he saw marital ties as the ultimate bond.

At a time like this, did he really think an alliance would strengthen them? Did he not realize how the Emperor would see it?

Jiang Youbai wanted to refuse but couldn’t outright reject the offer, so she attended the dinner.

The Prime Minister framed it as a private gathering, so it was a simple family affair—just three attendees: Ning Zuo himself, his sullen son Ning Yunze, and Jiang Youbai, who smiled through her displeasure.

Seeing only three people at the table, Jiang Youbai suspected this wasn’t just about marriage.

Sure enough, after a few rounds of implication about marriage, Ning Zuo abruptly changed topics. “A month ago, in the back garden…”

Ning Yunze’s expression shifted dramatically.

Jiang Youbai pretended not to catch on, raising her glass with a smile. “Young Master Ning fell into the water that day. I’ve been too busy to check in—how are you now? Didn’t catch a cold, I hope?”

Ning Zuo laughed heartily. “Your Highness, let’s not play games. You know what I’m referring to.”

Jiang Youbai played dumb, unwilling to give him any leverage. She drawled, “Oh? And what might that be?”

The two engaged in a verbal dance, neither willing to show their hand first.

Uncertain of the other’s intentions, they wasted words rather than risk speaking plainly.

Ning Yunze listened for five or six minutes before rolling his eyes. “Am I needed here? If not, I’m leaving!”

Ning Zuo snapped, “Sit down!”

Then, to Jiang Youbai, he said, “Your Highness, let’s not pretend. By bringing Yunze here today, isn’t my stance clear enough?”

Jiang Youbai smiled sweetly. “Oh? And what stance is that?”

The conversation had gone full circle. After drinking his fill, Ning Zuo finally grasped Jiang Youbai’s temperament—this Princess was unshakable, the type to remain calm no matter the storm.

So he laid his cards on the table. “Your Highness, we both know what happened that day. You handled it cleanly, but the Prime Minister’s office still had to tidy up loose ends. We’re on the same boat now—why not join forces for greater gains?”

Jiang Youbai cold laugh. “Prime Minister, what are you implying? That I owe you a debt?”

Ning Zuo chuckled, feigning ignorance.

Jiang Youbai had no patience left. “If you’re not sincere, then there’s no point. If this gets exposed, neither of us benefits. Let’s stop wasting time. Aligning with the Prime Minister’s office now would only drag me down. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, she stood and walked out.

Leaving the Prime Minister’s residence, Jiang Youbai wandered the brightly lit streets for a long time, feeling utterly drained.

All these veiled words and clashing schemes weren’t clever, but the schemers weren’t blind to the risks.

Power was simply too intoxicating—it robbed people of their reason.