After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Marked by the Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 4

Li Chu took a deep breath, then replied, “Hello, I’m Li Chu.”

“Regarding what happened that day, could we discuss it in person?”

Ning Manqing’s voice was very soft, carrying a hint of apology.

Li Chu’s soul was utterly captured by the gentle sound, and she said with a slight tremor in her voice: “It’s not convenient.”

Moved, yet refused.

Li Chu was a true couch potato. She had no grand ambition to seize the female lead’s resources and become a winner in life just because she had foreknowledge, nor did she plan to cling to the female lead to secure a bright future. She still didn’t know how to handle her relationship with the female lead, so the safest option was to wait and see.

A meeting was unnecessary. Her legs were still wobbly. What if she saw the person and got wet again? She couldn’t handle that kind of situation, sobs.

She was a decent person!

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and then Ning Manqing’s voice rang out again.

“I’m very sorry about what happened that day. I didn’t know I would suddenly differentiate either.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I was the one who differentiated first, and I didn’t expect it. It was sudden.”

Li Chu quickly interjected. Her previous gender wasn’t a secret, so she decided to be honest first, hoping to gloss over the matter of the aphrodisiac.

Fortunately, the original owner hadn’t conspired with anyone; it would be troublesome if others knew.

Besides, Li Chu genuinely felt Ning Manqing didn’t need to apologize. She should have been a stunningly beautiful Omega, but now the plot had split, and she’d flown to the other side.

The silence on the other end was longer this time. Ning Manqing’s low voice reached Li Chu’s ears, but to Li Chu, it was like a thunderclap, shocking her off the sofa and causing the copy of An Actor Prepares to fly to the floor.

Ning Manqing said she could take responsibility for her, and they could get married.

No, no, no! Stop, stop, stop!

“I don’t need you to take responsibility. That was just an accident.”

Li Chu immediately refused. She hadn’t figured out her future path yet; how could she skip the dating stage and jump straight to marriage, whether or not the person was the female lead?

Besides, she didn’t lose out! She enjoyed it!

“Ms. Ning, I think marriage should be a mutual choice based on a foundation of feelings. You only performed a temporary mark, and it was caused by my runaway pheromones. You truly don’t need to do this.”

An Alpha’s marking of an Omega is divided into two types: a temporary mark and a permanent mark.

A temporary mark is when an Alpha bites the Omega’s scent gland to inject their pheromones, which can soothe the Omega’s heat. After a temporary mark, depending on the amount of pheromones injected, the Omega will carry the Alpha’s pheromones for anywhere from a day to a week.

A permanent mark is a complete saturation of pheromones. The Alpha’s pheromones completely permeate the Omega’s entire body, leading to a complete intertwining of their pheromones. Any Alpha or Omega seeing a permanently marked Omega would know he/she is taken.

Temporary marks can happen many times, but a permanent mark is usually a one-time thing, unless they choose to divorce and find another partner. An Omega can go to the hospital to have a mark removed, but the process is extremely painful, equivalent to filtering and extracting the non-native pheromones that have grown with their flesh and bl00d.

While Li Chu’s mind was wandering, Ning Manqing replied.

“You’re right, I was presumptuous. If you ever need help with anything, feel free to say so. This is my personal number.”

“Okay.”

Li Chu happily agreed. Even though she didn’t plan to cling to the female lead for shelter, having a big shot’s contact info was a joy. She was determined to work in this industry, and perhaps she really could benefit from her patronage in the future.

“Shall we exchange contact information, then?”

“Sure, I’ll add you.”

Li Chu was excited. This was the future resource-rich female lead, a big shot. She loved the line of work she chose and already had the strong awareness of an industry insider.

“You don’t have to be so formal…”

Ning Manqing felt a little awkward about Li Chu’s attitude. When they had met before, Li Chu hadn’t given her a kind look, and she’d even heard her speak ill of her a few times. Now their relationship was subtly complicated, yet Li Chu was becoming increasingly polite to her, unlike before.

“Ms. Ning is a senior in my career, so my politeness is appropriate. Shall I add you, then?”

Li Chu’s current mindset was that of a newcomer in the entertainment industry. Although Ning Manqing hadn’t achieved massive popularity in her two years since her debut, her acting skills were highly praised. Li Chu always admired capable people and genuinely respected her.

“Ah, okay.”

Ning Manqing was stunned by her words and, after a brief pause, agreed.

Li Chu’s friend request was quickly accepted. Li Chu sent a cat emoji to say hello.

【Li Little Chu】: Hello, Ms. Ning

And she attached an emoji of a bowing cat.

Li Chu was very satisfied—it was steady but playful.

【Ning】: Hello

Ning Manqing typed her message stiffly, looking at her phone screen, struggling and hesitating about what to say, but not knowing what to write. After much thought, she decided to wait for the other person to send a message before replying.

She looked at Li Chu’s cute, hand-drawn peach profile picture and recalled the peach scent she had smelled that day.

She hadn’t just smelled it; she had deeply and shallowly tasted the flavor of the peach flesh and juice—the pale fingers, the light pink knees, the low sobs, like a sweet, soft phantom dream.

Li Chu was completely unaware that Ning Manqing was waiting for her to send a message. After sending her greeting, she put her phone aside and continued to seriously and professionally read her book, practicing facial expressions in the mirror.

That evening, Tang Congnan came to her apartment with food. Watching Li Chu eat with her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster, he wore a look of affectionate fondness.

“Brother Nan, why are you smiling like that? It’s kind of creepy.”

Li Chu, eating a portion of rice only the size of her fist, looked up and was nearly choked by Tang Congnan’s glittering eyes.

“I’m imagining our wonderful future—a breakout acting role, winning awards, becoming a top star!”

“Bro, it’s dark, but it’s not time to dream yet.”

Li Chu mercilessly called him out. She hadn’t even fantasized that far.

Tang Congnan said smugly, “Is this dreaming? This is an ideal that will be realized sooner or later! You’re an Omega, and you’re so good-looking! Ah, you’re genuinely beautiful! Look at this pale face, this waist, these legs, one word: stunning! It would be a crime against nature if you didn’t get famous!”

Tang Congnan laughed like Li Chu’s aunt at Chinese New Year, showing off her own child, eventually climaxing with a table-slap and a cracked voice.

“Right, right, a crime against nature,” Li Chu responded perfunctorily, finishing her dinner.

Tang Congnan helped her clear the dining table, rambling, “You need to have some ambition, you hear me? You’re the treasure the entire company is eagerly waiting on right now.”

“I know,” Li Chu drew out her response. After Tang Congnan looked over, she immediately gave a playful salute. “I will definitely work hard to live up to the organization’s cultivation.”

Hearing this, Tang Congnan said, “Then, are you going to participate in This Is the Actor in a week?”

“Me? In a week? Can I do it?”

Li Chu was momentarily speechless. She had only just started, and hadn’t even fully grasped acting yet. Did she have to go straight into a competition show that sounded like an acting contest?

“We only have one spot for the next episode. If you miss it, we won’t have another variety show with this much exposure for a while.”

Tang Congnan was also hesitant. While their company wasn’t a tiny workshop, it wasn’t a behemoth either. Securing one spot on a popular variety show was already difficult.

This Is the Actor was a hugely popular quarterly variety show. It had aired three episodes and was the top topic and most popular show in the same season. The company originally planned to give this opportunity to someone else, but since Li Chu had differentiated, they wanted her to go for exposure and promotion.

Seeing Li Chu’s nervousness, Tang Congnan encouraged her, “Just give it a try. This show is elimination-based, and you might not even stay.”

Li Chu: …Thanks a lot.

Tang Congnan seemed to remember something and added, “Oh, right, I heard Ning Manqing will also be there for the next episode. There will be cameras, so no making faces, and try not to clash with her. You’re not on the same path, so don’t compare yourself to her, understood?”

Li Chu thought, ‘Not on the same path? We were in the same bed, and she was reluctant to pull out her hand.’

But on the surface, she obediently replied, “Got it. I’m not jealous of her anymore. I realize she’s genuinely amazing.”

That was also amazing, just so fierce, Li Chu thought shyly.