Are You Trying to Mark Me? (GL, ABO) - Chapter 18
“It’s decided!”
Lu An held his ultra-thin laptop and said to Yu Ran, “I’ve decided to rename this fanfiction—it’ll be called Exclusive Love!”
Yu Ran was tidying up the table and kept repeating silently in her mind—
Can’t hear it, can’t hear it, can’t hear it, can’t hear it, can’t hear it… over and over
A few days ago, Min Wenyi’s photo together with others had really shocked Yu Ran because she hadn’t gone to check how it turned out. When Tong Xinxin told her she’d gone trending online, Yu Ran was scared half to death.
She had snuck out of the research institute secretly, and she still hadn’t met her matched Alpha.
If the photos had clearly shown her face, then wouldn’t that so-called top-grade Alpha come looking for her?
Arranged marriage is such a modern-day disgrace!
Luckily, Min Wenyi had thought about Yu Ran—only a side view of a hairpin was caught in the photo, not Yu Ran’s face.
And the phrase Exclusive Love was just the name of the brand’s product line.
After finishing tidying up the table, Yu Ran calmly put the dishes in the kitchen.
“Assistant Yu Ran, did you hear what I said?”
Lu An was like a persistent ghost, circling Yu Ran. Seeing this young guy so obsessed with ship fanfiction, Yu Ran got annoyed.
“What do you want now?”
Yu Ran said angrily, “I haven’t told the boss about your novel writing. Why are you still bothering me?”
Is he trying to show her more embarrassing pictures again?
Forget it!
Lu An cleared his throat and said, “I mean my fanfiction is finished.”
Finished?
Great!
Yu Ran’s eyes lit up. Finally, she wouldn’t have to be secretly spied on by Lu An every few days!
But then she thought, since Lu An had written so many fanfics about Min Wenyi, he might start another one. She had to teach him a lesson now.
“Lu An,” Yu Ran frowned like Min Wenyi, “Don’t you think writing that stuff is bad for your health?”
Lu An shook his head, “My whole life depends on those fanfics.”
Yu Ran: “…But you can’t write them every day.”
“I don’t write every day. Just sometimes.”
“That’s still no good.”
Yu Ran said seriously, “Besides the fanfics about me and the boss, aren’t you going to try writing about anyone else?”
Hmm?
That sentence sounded off somehow…
Lu An thought for a moment, then seriously shook his head, “Others are too hard to ship.”
Yu Ran was so mad her chest hurt. Before she could say anything else, Lu An said,
“I just told you I finished it, right?”
“Yeah.” She was impatient.
“So,” Lu An said, “I’m publishing a book.”
Yu Ran: “…”
She thought her ears must be broken because she heard something she shouldn’t have.
A book?
What book?
Their book?
A book about her and Min Wenyi?!?
“Lu An, I advise you to be reasonable!” Yu Ran’s face turned red with anger. “Why don’t you write your own story?”
Lu An shouted back, “I tried, but I’m no good!”
He sounded so confident saying that, and Yu Ran, who was clumsy with words, was too angry to say anything!
Oh my god, what kind of demon is this guy?!
He wrote fanfics read by three or four hundred thousand people, and now he wants to publish their book?!
Lu An, are you the devil?!
“Next month, my book will be out,” Lu An said as he chased after Yu Ran. “You have to come to the comic convention with me to sell it.”
Are you crazy?!
Yu Ran ran while yelling, “You—you—you want me to sell my own book?! No way!!”
Lu An kept chasing, “Come with me! This secret is only between us. If you don’t come, I’ll be so lonely!”
So… can I go then?!
The two of them went back and forth across the dining table—one running, one chasing.
“Stop chasing me! I’d rather die than go!”
“Assistant, I’m begging you! I’ll pay you!”
“Get lost!!!”
Min Wenyi pushed open the door and saw a soft shape flying towards her. She casually grabbed a pillow that was being thrown.
After seeing the situation inside the room clearly, Min Wenyi asked coldly, “What are you all doing?”
Yu Ran was startled when she saw Min Wenyi come back. “Didn’t you say you’d be back only tonight?”
Min Wenyi carried a pillow into the room and said boredly, “If I didn’t come back, you guys could have torn the whole place apart.”
She glanced at Lu An and asked, “What notebook were you just talking about?”
“!!!!”
Both of them were instantly alert!
Lu An thought: I can’t let Sister Wenyi know I’m writing her little romance story, or she’ll kill me!
Yu Ran thought: I can’t let the boss know I know Lu An is writing her little romance, or I’ll be forced to read it every day tied up!
“No, no, nothing…” Yu Ran forced a straight face and stammered, “Maybe they meant notebook, like a laptop.”
Lu An nodded vigorously.
Min Wenyi glanced at the computer and asked again, “Then Lu An, why did you ask Yu Ran to stay and help you?”
“Nothing, nothing…” Lu An nervously looked at Yu Ran and said, “My delivery just arrived, I’m going downstairs to get it!”
With that, he grabbed his laptop and quickly ran off.
Yu Ran felt frustrated and annoyed—this little troublemaker ran off fast, leaving a mess for her to clean up!
“Ding dong—”
Yu Ran’s phone rang. She checked and saw a message from Lu An.
Lu An: Thanks for covering for me. I’ll write you a few extra side stories!
No way!!!!!
Yu Ran fiercely replied, “You better not!”
Min Wenyi’s gaze fell on Yu Ran, feeling strangely uncomfortable.
Lately, she noticed Yu Ran and Lu An had gotten really close.
Before, they were like strangers who barely talked, and even when they got familiar, they never acted this noisy.
Could it be…
Min Wenyi frowned.
“Yu Ran,” she said in an unfriendly tone, “you’ve been really close with Lu An recently. Do you like him?”
“Huh?”
Yu Ran looked up at Min Wenyi, puzzled. “Boss, where did you get that I like him from?”
Right now, Yu Ran wished she could peel that little brat’s skin off!
Min Wenyi looked carefully at Yu Ran, then stepped inside.
“Oh, right,” Yu Ran quickly ran over to help Min Wenyi grab her coat and scarf. “It’s gotten colder today. Is it chilly outside?”
Taking the clothes, Yu Ran felt the chill through the fabric.
“Not really, doesn’t feel that cold,” Min Wenyi said, looking down at Yu Ran. “What are we having for dinner tonight?”
Yu Ran smiled, “Your favorite oyster soup.”
Min Wenyi liked soup, so Yu Ran often made her a small bowl as a nourishing treat.
“I want to eat something different today.”
“Hm?”
Yu Ran noticed Min Wenyi’s mood and cautiously asked, “Are you… feeling bad?”
Actually, Min Wenyi was in a bad mood.
At the company today, they still wanted to create hype, but Min Wenyi didn’t agree.
She hated relationships that had a price tag—it made her feel cold and distant.
That’s why she wasn’t planning to chase after the one who ran away.
“If one day I start my own business,” Min Wenyi looked at Yu Ran with clear eyes and asked, “will you support me?”
Yu Ran was a little stunned, then reached out her hand.
“You can do whatever you want,” Yu Ran smiled, “I’ll support anything you do.”
The warmth from Yu Ran’s hand softened Min Wenyi’s normally pale face quite a bit.
“How can you support me so much without even knowing what I want to do?”
“Because you’re smart, so whatever you do must be right.”
Even though Yu Ran was clearly flattering her, Min Wenyi felt happy inside. She suddenly felt grateful that little runaway Omega left—otherwise, how would she have met Yu Ran?
Min Wenyi gently smiled, grabbed Yu Ran’s wrist, and whispered, “Let me hold you.”
Before Yu Ran could react, she was pulled into an embrace.
Smelling the familiar perfume mixed with hidden rum, Yu Ran blushed and pushed Min Wenyi lightly. “I should cook now…”
Min Wenyi said, “Hold me a little longer.”
Yu Ran: “…”
Her face was completely flushed.
In the following days, Min Wenyi often went out for work. Yu Ran wanted to follow but couldn’t help much, so she stayed home.
Winter had finally arrived.
“Achoo!”
Yu Ran couldn’t help sneezing.
As the temperature dropped, she felt unwell—her throat burning painfully.
Min Wenyi looked back and asked, “Are you catching a cold?”
Yu Ran shook her head but felt her mind was foggy, like water sloshing around inside.
“It’s okay, probably just because of the cold weather.”
Yu Ran’s eyes were a bit red as she said to Min Wenyi, “Aren’t you going out today? Let me help you get your coat.”
Saying this, Yu Ran went upstairs.
Seeing her unsteady steps and lack of energy, Min Wenyi felt worried.
She reached out and pulled Yu Ran back. “Don’t go out today. I’ll stay home with you.”
Yu Ran shook her head. “It’s just a small cold. I’ll just go buy medicine. You don’t need to stay.”
Besides, she was just an assistant—no reason for Min Wenyi to take care of her.
Min Wenyi looked at Yu Ran but didn’t insist. She only said, “I’ll be back soon,” then left.
Cleaning the house and taking medicine.
Yu Ran lay on the sofa, drifting in and out of sleep.
She didn’t know how much time passed before she suddenly felt a heavy tightness in her chest, as if it was about to explode.
She woke up drenched in sweat, staring at the pitch-black living room, listening to her heart pounding hard.
And the whole room was still filled with an unshakable scent of pheromones.
Yu Ran suddenly remembered—she had forgotten to take her suppressant today…