After the Scumbag Alpha Accidentally Marked the Blackened Villain - Chapter 34

Lin Bie hesitated, hand resting on the cold doorknob. She wasn’t sure if Leng Jinxi was already asleep. Part of her hoped she was—it would spare her the discomfort of meeting her eyes. But another part of her wished she were still awake, so they could talk, even just a little.

Torn between these two emotions, she didn’t even notice that the doorknob had already warmed from her touch.

She pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and pressed down on the handle.

Unlike when she left earlier, the bedroom lights were now off. Only the dim glow of the bedside lamp remained, casting a soft yellow halo that blurred in Lin Bie’s eyes. Her footsteps faltered as a wave of emotion welled up in her chest.

She left the light on for me.

Lowering her gaze, Lin Bie felt something stir at her heart—something quiet, like a breeze.

Her hand fell limply to her side as guilt crept over her. She thought back to the cold words she had said earlier. What had Leng Jinxi gone through in the past to end up so different from the confident, glamorous woman who had once drunk with abandon? The disparity was heartbreaking.

There was a deep sorrow in Lin Bie’s eyes. She hadn’t realized how crushed Leng Jinxi had become, how thoroughly manipulated and suppressed. Drinking seemed to be her only escape, her only way of expressing what she truly felt.

And in her truest form… she cares about me. She needs me.

It was an untimely thought, but it still brought Lin Bie a fleeting happiness, instantly followed by a heavier guilt.

For someone who’d spent so many years navigating the entertainment industry, she hadn’t even been able to tell whether Leng Jinxi’s feelings were real or just an act. Now it had come to this mess—only after Leng

Wenxia pointed it out did she finally understand. Lin Bie mentally berated herself.

The room was comfortably warm. Leng Jinxi was lying on her side, back facing Lin Bie. Her long dark hair spilled down her back, partially covering her bare shoulders like strands of seaweed floating in still water.

She lay quietly, breathing shallowly, the sound barely discernible beneath the rain tapping gently against the windows. The scene felt like a silk painting, exquisitely detailed. A fine drizzle seemed to seep into Lin

Bie’s heart as she stood motionless, watching her.

Everything—the temperature, the soft breaths, the rain, and the faint scent she liked—made the atmosphere feel warm and gentle. Lin Bie couldn’t help but smile softly. Afraid of waking Leng Jinxi, she tiptoed toward the bed.

She gently lifted the blanket and carefully slipped into the very edge of the bed. It was a wide bed, and while Leng Jinxi slept closer to the right side, Lin Bie kept to the far left, so far over she might roll off if she moved. But still, she felt oddly at peace.

The lingering warmth in the sheets hadn’t yet dissipated. As she got closer, Lin Bie could smell that familiar scent from Leng Jinxi’s body. Her face flushed at the memory of what had just happened, and she buried her cheeks into the pillow—only to be overwhelmed by the lingering fragrance.

So fragrant…

Her cheeks burned even hotter. Embarrassed, she quickly turned over—nearly falling off the bed in the process. Cold sweat broke out all over her as the blush-inducing memories instantly scattered.

She patted her chest to calm her thundering heart and swallowed nervously. Then she held her breath and listened. After a few seconds of silence, she relaxed a little.

The floor had carpeting, yes—but it would still hurt to fall off. And worse, it might wake Leng Jinxi. Lin Bie still didn’t know how to apologize.

She lay flat on her back and turned off the bedside lamp. Folding her hands over her stomach, she glanced one last time at Leng Jinxi, who still lay turned away, seemingly asleep.

Softly, almost inaudibly, she whispered:

“Good night.”

…

“Aren’t you afraid of falling off the bed?”

Lin Bie jumped at the voice and instinctively rolled aside, nearly tumbling off the edge. She clutched the mattress in a panic and sat up. “I… Did I wake you?”

There was no verbal reply—only the rustle of fabric as Leng Jinxi turned over. Rain still fell outside, the room shrouded in darkness. Yet Lin Bie could clearly see her eyes—bright, alert, and devoid of sleep.

“I wasn’t asleep,” Leng Jinxi said, hugging the blanket tightly. Her voice carried the faintest hint of resentment.

She’s still not feeling well. How could she sleep?

Lin Bie scratched her head awkwardly, trying to think of something to say. But her silence only made Leng Jinxi think she was avoiding her. Remembering how Lin Bie had turned and walked away earlier, her heart tightened with frustration.

For some reason, Leng Jinxi had always felt that Lin Bie would never refuse her—whatever she asked, it should be done without question. That unspoken belief now made her especially angry. Her eyes reddened slightly, and her tone turned commanding.

“Put on a suppressant patch for me.”

Lin Bie blinked. “Huh?” Her head snapped up to meet Leng Jinxi’s cold, unyielding gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.

Why does she look so scary…? Lin Bie suddenly felt like if she disobeyed, she might trigger some kind of “gland-removal” punishment plotline ahead of schedule.

Faced with the pressure of Leng Jinxi’s glare—and weighed down by guilt—Lin Bie lowered her head and began rummaging through the nightstand for the suppressant patch. The room was too dark; she couldn’t see into the drawer. Just as she was about to turn on the small bedside lamp, a sharp voice stopped her.

“Don’t turn on the light.”

She quickly drew her hand back, looking pitiful and aggrieved. Leng Jinxi must have thought she was too wild earlier and was punishing her with this cold attitude.

Silently cursing herself, Lin Bie forced her sadness and panic down. She fumbled in the dark until she found the patch, opened it with practiced ease, and said in a steady voice, “Lift your hair. I’ll put it on for you.”

She did her best to sound calm and professional.

Leng Jinxi sat up. Outside, thunder rumbled. She flinched slightly, and a flash of lightning briefly lit up the room—revealing the pale skin of her nape and the faint red marks left behind by Lin Bie’s kisses.

Lin Bie froze, her pupils contracting, and she quickly turned away. She cleared her throat in a poor attempt to play it cool, but her heart was already racing.

Leng Jinxi noticed her reaction, her brows tightening. She turned her body, lifting her hair to reveal the swollen pink gland at the base of her neck.

Still unrelieved, the gland continued to release its intoxicating scent. Lin Bie moved closer with the patch, only to be overwhelmed by Leng Jinxi’s pheromones. An instinctual urge to bite welled up. She shook her head hard, forcing herself to focus. Her hand trembled.

She couldn’t see well in the dark. Unlike Leng Jinxi, her night vision wasn’t great. All she could do was follow the rich scent of camellias, unaware of the exact position. Her warm breath brushed against Leng Jinxi’s bare skin, making the woman tremble.

Leng Jinxi bit her lip, brows furrowed, enduring the physical reaction. Her skin was sensitive, and Lin Bie’s exhalations tickled and burned. She tried her best to suppress her body’s instincts, swallowing the soft gasps threatening to escape her throat.

She regretted everything. This was supposed to be a small punishment using pheromones—but now she was the one suffering.

She shifted uncomfortably. That familiar sticky feeling crept back in, and she closed her eyes in silent despair.

Lin Bie, on the other hand, had no idea. Convinced that Leng Jinxi now resented her, she had zero flirtatious thoughts left—only a determination to complete her task. But the more careful she tried to be, the more mistakes she made. Her fingers kept brushing against Leng Jinxi’s soft skin, and each contact sent a visible shiver through her.

Lin Bie: “…”

I was wrong. Sister, please have mercy.

At that moment, another bolt of lightning flashed outside, illuminating the room. Seizing the brief clarity, Lin Bie quickly placed the suppressant patch in the right spot.

The cool touch against her gland soothed Leng Jinxi’s discomfort. She let out a soft moan and slumped slightly. Thankfully, the sudden downpour outside masked the sound.

Lin Bie, sweating from anxiety, watched her lie back down and quietly returned to her own spot—carefully shifting further away, until there were at least three pillows’ worth of space between them.

The rain grew heavier. Inside, all was still. Lin Bie lay flat, listening to the sound of breathing beside her, unable to fall asleep.

Maybe it was having someone else in bed, maybe it was just the unfamiliar environment. Whatever the reason, she stayed wide awake, afraid to move or disturb Leng Jinxi. She just lay there, eyes closed, listening to the rain.

Then, over the sound of the storm, came Leng Jinxi’s voice—soft and cool:

“Is that a tattoo on your chest?”

She asked it casually, like she was just making conversation.

Lin Bie opened her eyes and turned to look. Leng Jinxi had rolled over, her dark eyes veiled by the night, like a misty fog that blurred all clarity.

She looked away and replied easily.

“It’s a birthmark. I’ve had it since I was a kid.”

Her tone was light, almost nostalgic.

Though its pattern was strange and looked more like an ornate tattoo, it truly was a birthmark. And it had stayed with her ever since she transmigrated into this body—her only constant.

Leng Jinxi didn’t respond, only nodded slightly and lowered her eyes.

A birthmark?

Her expression darkened. Did Lin Bie really have a birthmark? She searched her fragmented memories, but they were too scattered, too broken. All it gave her was a sharp headache.

She pressed a hand to her temple, turned over, and muttered, “I’m tired.”

Lin Bie: “…Oh. Goodnight.”

Though she didn’t understand why Leng Jinxi’s tone had suddenly turned cold, she still responded gently. She closed her eyes, silently thinking over the things Leng Wenxia had said to her.

What was the point of bringing them up now? It would only make Leng Jinxi recall a mess of pain and sorrow.

So Lin Bie swallowed down her apology, saying nothing more.

Perhaps it was their conversation, or simply her own exhaustion, but Lin Bie eventually drifted off. Her breathing grew soft and rhythmic.

Rain poured outside, and inside, the silence was warm.

Then, the rustle of fabric.

Leng Jinxi turned over, hugging her blanket, staring at Lin Bie’s sleeping face just inches away. She bit her lip in frustration.

How is she asleep already?!

Unable to resist, she leaned closer to look.

A graceful jawline, high nose, arched brows—everything was just like the person in her dreams. Even her demeanor had shifted into something familiar.

Her eyes fell on Lin Bie’s lips. She bit her own in annoyance.

You stir me up and make me want to shower again, but you just fall asleep like it’s nothing? How could you be this heartless?

She sighed.

But every time she saw that face, her anger melted away.

She didn’t know why.

Her gaze softened. She stared a little longer, then began to turn away—but at that moment, Lin Bie suddenly rolled over and pulled her into an embrace. One arm circled her waist, and a leg hooked over hers, gathering her completely into her chest.

Leng Jinxi froze. She didn’t even dare to breathe. Her long lashes fluttered slightly as her pounding heartbeat filled her ears.

Humans really were contradictory creatures.

She feared being discovered—but also longed for Lin Bie to do more.

Wrapped in Lin Bie’s cool Alpha scent, her discomfort slowly faded. The light in her eyes shimmered. She couldn’t explain it, but she liked being held like this. Liked being surrounded by her scent.

A while passed, and Lin Bie’s breathing stayed steady. Her hold didn’t loosen.

So she’s treating me like a body pillow…?!

Leng Jinxi scowled, then tilted her head. Confirming that Lin Bie was truly asleep, she resisted the urge to pinch her ear and tried to slip away.

But the moment she moved, Lin Bie’s arm tightened again, pulling her closer and tucking her under her chin—a soothing, protective motion that said clearly:

Don’t leave.

Held like that, Leng Jinxi couldn’t bring herself to break free. After a few failed attempts, she gave up and snuggled in, wrapping her own arms around Lin Bie. Her eyes sparkled with unspoken tenderness.

She knew the odd tattoo-like birthmark on Lin Bie’s chest was right in front of her. Gently, she leaned forward and placed a light kiss over it—through the thin fabric between them.

Outside, rain splattered heavily against the windows.

In Lin Bie’s arms, Leng Jinxi closed her eyes, smiling faintly.

“Goodnight.”

I hope the version of you who always runs away from me… won’t be scared tomorrow morning.

She smiled again.