Are You Trying to Mark Me? (GL, ABO) - Chapter 25
“Yu Ran, you’re an Omega.”
This wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
Min Wenyi had found out—she knew Yu Ran was an Omega…
Yu Ran’s face turned pale. Struggling, she tried to avoid Min Wenyi’s gaze and said, “I’m not. I don’t know where you got that test report from, but I’m not an Omega…”
As she spoke, Yu Ran suddenly smelled the strong scent of rum and immediately turned even paler.
Min Wenyi stared at her and lowered her voice: “If I took off your clothes right now, would you still say that?”
Saying that, Min Wenyi casually dropped the test report at her feet and reached out to unbutton Yu Ran’s collar.
“!!!”
Yu Ran was shocked by Min Wenyi’s action. Struggling, she shouted, “You can’t do that…!!!”
The rum scent on Min Wenyi grew stronger as she deliberately asked, “Why not? Didn’t you say you’re not an Omega?”
When the second button was undone, Yu Ran finally let her head drop like a deflated balloon.
“I… I’m an Omega. Please stop… I beg you…”
Her face lowered, hiding from Min Wenyi’s view. But hearing Yu Ran’s desperate words, Min Wenyi realized she had gone too far this time.
She pulled back her scent and loosened her grip on Yu Ran’s shoulder.
“Why?”
Min Wenyi looked at the girl with her head bowed and asked, “Why did you fake your identity to be my assistant?”
Yu Ran clenched her collar and glanced at Min Wenyi before slowly saying, “Because… if I didn’t fake it, I wouldn’t be able to find a job at all.”
Hearing that, Min Wenyi was suddenly speechless.
Because of the special nature of Omegas, although they were protected by certain laws, it also meant they had trouble working normally. After all, whoever married a suitable Omega would give her the most important role—bearing children.
Looking at the small and fragile Yu Ran in front of her, Min Wenyi suddenly understood what she meant.
But that didn’t mean she agreed.
“You should know better how to protect yourself,” Min Wenyi stared at Yu Ran and said, “If what happened last night really did, it would be extremely unfair to you.”
Yu Ran looked up at Min Wenyi, pressed her lips together, and asked, “Then, will you send me away?”
“…I’m not sure.”
Min Wenyi looked at Yu Ran and suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Usually so decisive and clear-headed, she didn’t know what to do now.
Yu Ran was an Omega. She was an Alpha.
Could two people like that continue living together?
Min Wenyi didn’t say anything else. She just turned and left the kitchen without looking back at Yu Ran once.
At noon, Yu Ran went upstairs to knock on the door, but Min Wenyi didn’t open it.
In the evening, Lu An came back from class.
Seeing the table full of dishes and Yu Ran’s restless expression, Lu An couldn’t help but ask, “Little assistant, why do you keep looking upstairs? Isn’t Sister Wenyi coming down for dinner?”
Yu Ran thought for a moment, glanced at Lu An, and shook her head.
Before they could say anything, Min Wenyi came downstairs. She looked like she just woke up, with clear sleepiness still around her eyes.
“Sister Wenyi, you stayed up late last night?”
Lu An pinched some food while speaking, “Why do you look so tired?”
Unintentionally, the two people present exchanged a quick glance and hurriedly looked away.
Min Wenyi stared at Lu An and irritably said, “None of your business. Eat quickly and go back to practice dancing.”
Lu An didn’t understand why she was getting involved but seeing the strange atmosphere, she grabbed her favorite braised pork, said she’d eat it elsewhere, and took two bowls of rice.
Suddenly, the dining table was empty.
Min Wenyi pulled out a chair and sat down, glanced at the food but didn’t say a word. After a few bites, she put down her chopsticks.
“I’m full.”
Yu Ran curled her neck, didn’t ask why Min Wenyi ate so little, and could only clutch her skirt, lowering her head.
Min Wenyi looked at Yu Ran’s untouched plate and wanted to urge her to eat but swallowed the words back.
Yu Ran couldn’t live with her anymore.
This thought made Min Wenyi feel extremely restless.
The obedient little assistant, the cheerful little assistant, and now… the defeated little assistant.
Another whole night, Min Wenyi couldn’t sleep well.
In her dreams, all she saw were Yu Ran’s sad eyes and her bowed head.
And the thought that she was going to leave her…
The next morning.
Yu Ran hugged a pillow. She had only fallen asleep in the early hours.
The first time she met Min Wenyi, Yu Ran thought she was cold but gentle. Occasionally, when Min Wenyi smiled during their talks, she seemed very friendly.
But yesterday—
Min Wenyi hadn’t spoken to her all day.
Yu Ran understood Min Wenyi’s feelings. She had deliberately hidden her identity, so it was natural for Min Wenyi to be angry after finding out.
But… she didn’t want this to happen either…
Yu Ran turned and looked at her bedroom door. Suddenly, she heard someone going downstairs.
Sitting up, she glanced at the time.
It was only 6 a.m.
In the living room, Min Wenyi was putting on a jacket, bending down to tie her shoelaces.
Click.
The guest room door at the end of the first floor slowly opened. Yu Ran stood in the doorway, wearing her pajama dress, looking dazed as she watched Min Wenyi.
“You… are you going out?”
Min Wenyi glanced back. Yu Ran must have just woken up; her chestnut hair was messy, and her small face was creased, looking like a doll who hadn’t slept enough.
Min Wenyi stared for a moment before turning her head away.
“I’m going for a morning run.”
She faced away from Yu Ran and said, “You don’t have to make my breakfast this morning. I might not be back until noon.”
Without waiting for Yu Ran’s reply, Min Wenyi put on her mask and left.
Yu Ran stood by her door, clenching her fists in frustration, her eyes slightly red.
It looked like she wouldn’t be staying much longer…
Min Wenyi, downstairs, looked at the misty morning sun, took a deep breath of the fresh air, pulled up her hoodie, and started running.
But instead of running around the community square, she ran straight out of the neighborhood.
At six o’clock on the road, there were still very few pedestrians. Min Wenyi was running while her mind wandered through various thoughts.
After some time, she looked up and saw a residential community with a familiar name.
Sister Chen, who had just finished her postpartum confinement, was now holding her little baby—just over three months old—and nursing her.
After carrying the baby for ten months and giving birth, Sister Chen had endured the painful schedule of feeding the baby every two hours. Now, she only had to get up twice at night.
Probably well-fed, the baby’s soft, fair face showed a satisfied smile as she lay quietly asleep in Sister Chen’s arms.
Just then—
Ding dong—
Someone rang the doorbell.
Sister Chen glanced at the time. It was just past 8 a.m. Who could be visiting at this hour?
Not wanting to take any chances, Sister Chen gently placed the baby on the bed, put on a jacket, and went to the door.
Through the peephole, she saw a tall, slim figure wearing a hood and mask standing at her door.
If it had been an ordinary person, one might have thought it was some kind of danger. But Sister Chen had cared for Min Wenyi for a long time and recognized the visitor immediately.
Opening the door, Sister Chen looked at the fully covered Min Wenyi and asked with surprise, “Wenyi? What are you doing here?”
Min Wenyi pulled down her mask, looked at Sister Chen, and asked, “Can I come in and sit for a while?”
Sister Chen’s home was a small two-bedroom apartment, about 80 square meters including shared areas. The master bedroom was for her and her husband. The second bedroom was empty for now, storing some unused furniture and a computer.
Used to living in big houses, Min Wenyi found this place quite small, but it felt especially warm.
Maybe… it just felt like home.
“Ah—”
The baby, probably hearing the noise, kicked her legs in the swaddle and stared wide-eyed at this “stranger” who came today.
“Sweetie is a bit fussy,” Sister Chen said as she tidied the baby’s clothes, “You can try playing with her.”
Min Wenyi looked down at the baby’s bright, sparkling eyes and found it very interesting.
She reminded Min Wenyi of someone waiting for her back at home.
“You had the baby, and I haven’t even found time to visit you,” Min Wenyi said as she gently touched the baby’s soft cheeks. “I’m really sorry.”
“Nonsense,” Sister Chen laughed and sat on the edge of the bed. “You sent me so many things, didn’t you? There are still lots of your stuff in the next room, and I can’t even use them all. You bought way too much.”
They chatted casually for a bit. Sister Chen noticed that Min Wenyi seemed troubled today.
“Why did you suddenly come to my place?” Sister Chen asked while folding Sweetie’s shirt. “Did something happen?”
Min Wenyi didn’t answer directly. She just watched Sweetie clutch her finger tightly and quietly asked, “She’s a girl, right?”
“Yes, she’s a cute little princess.”
“That’s good.”
Holding Sweetie’s soft little hand, Min Wenyi asked, “Sister Chen, if your daughter grows up and turns out to be an Omega, what would you do?”
Sister Chen paused and replied, “Her father and I are both Betas, so it’s unlikely she’ll become an Omega… But if she really is a little Omega, I would take even better care of her.”
“…I see.”
“After all, she’s my daughter. I wouldn’t let anyone bully her.”
Sister Chen looked thoughtfully at Min Wenyi and tilted her head. “Why do you suddenly ask this? Did something happen?”
Nothing escapes a sharp former assistant…
Min Wenyi shook her head and said, “I’m thinking of changing my personal assistant.”
Sister Chen was a bit surprised. Although she was on maternity leave, she knew Yu Ran was doing well at work. Yi Qiao had mentioned that Yu Ran was sick recently, and Min Wenyi hadn’t gone to work then.
Why suddenly want to change assistants?
“Is it… because Yu Ran didn’t take good care of you?”
“…No.”
“Did she make some mistake?”
Min Wenyi shook her head again. “No.”
“If she hasn’t made mistakes and is trying her best to take care of you, then why would you want to fire her?”
“…”
Min Wenyi sighed slowly.
She couldn’t explain it clearly, but she just felt that if they kept living like this, their relationship would get worse.
Worse to the point of losing control.
“Wenyi, you’re not the kind of person to make trouble for no reason,” Sister Chen said gently. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“Sister Chen,” Min Wenyi said, changing the subject, “Is a person’s birth a kind of original sin?”
Why was she an Alpha, and Yu Ran an Omega?
If it wasn’t because of their attributes, they could have lived together warmly like before.
Not like now, both hiding feelings, unsure what to do.
Sister Chen glanced at her and calmly said, “Wenyi, you can’t blame her for something that’s not her fault. After all, many things are beyond our choice from birth.”
Min Wenyi looked at Sister Chen, thoughtful.
If there were a choice, who would want to be an Omega, someone whose status depends only on childbirth?
Yu Ran probably wouldn’t choose it either.
Suddenly, Min Wenyi understood something, and for a moment, her mind cleared like water pouring over her head.
“I get it.”
She stood up and said to Sister Chen, “I have to go now.”
Though she didn’t fully understand what had happened, Sister Chen got up and walked her to the door.
“Oh, by the way,” Sister Chen said, “I want to tell you something.”
“Hm?”
“I’m thinking… of being a full-time housewife for a while. I might not be able to come back as your assistant for the next two years.”
Min Wenyi was a bit surprised but couldn’t refuse when she saw Sister Chen’s serious expression.
“Got it,” Min Wenyi said, putting her mask and hood back on. “If one day you don’t want to be a housewife anymore, you’re always welcome back.”
————————————
All morning, Yu Ran cleaned every corner of the house inside and out.
When Min Wenyi came home, she saw the spotless rooms and freshly prepared meals on the table.
“You’re back!”
Yu Ran carried a basket of steamed buns out of the kitchen and placed it on the dining table.
Seeing Min Wenyi’s suspicious look, she smiled and said, “I made you some soup dumplings. You should try them.”
Min Wenyi didn’t look at the buns but focused on the 24-inch suitcase outside the guest room.
The suitcase was bulging, clearly packed full.
“Um…” Yu Ran, with her hands behind her back, looked a bit embarrassed and said, “I packed my things, and I thought I’d just be causing you trouble, so… I’m planning to quit.”
Min Wenyi said nothing, just stared at her closely.
Yu Ran didn’t dare meet Min Wenyi’s gaze. Instead, she nervously and awkwardly said, “I’ve caused you trouble recently. After all, I’m an Omega, and living with me must be hard for you, so…”
“So you want to leave?”
Yu Ran was stunned for a moment and nodded, “Yeah.”
She had worked by Min Wenyi’s side for about half a year and saved some money. Even if she couldn’t find a job right away, she could survive for a while.
Besides, Yu Ran knew how to cook and clean, so she wasn’t worried about daily life.
She just wasn’t sure if the landlord who rented her the place for a few hundred yuan a month would rent her another room.
Min Wenyi frowned deeply, looking displeased.
She had just decided not to let Yu Ran go, so why was this assistant stubbornly going against her?
Angry—Min Wenyi was really angry.
“What kind of job do you plan to find if you leave?”
“Um… something casual, like a waitress or office worker, anything will do.”
Min Wenyi’s face turned dark. “Using that fake Beta identity of yours?”
Yu Ran was taken aback, looking troubled. “I… have no choice…”
To support herself, she first needed a job.
But to get a job, she had to lie to the boss.
It was a vicious cycle, one she couldn’t break.
“There are basically no jobs in society that accept Omegas,” Yu Ran lowered her head and said, “And with things like heat cycles that are unstable, if I don’t hide it, no one will hire me.”
Min Wenyi frowned.
“Besides, I don’t know anything else, so I’d have to start at the very bottom.”
Min Wenyi’s face turned even darker.
“If only I could find a reasonable boss who provides housing, since rent is so expensive.”
Min Wenyi’s expression completely lost control.
What did “knowing nothing” mean? The food Yu Ran cooked was so good, and she was gentle and thoughtful—how could that be “knowing nothing”?
And what did “a reasonable boss” mean? Wasn’t Min Wenyi reasonable?
Most importantly, what did “providing housing” mean?
Was Yu Ran planning to live with a bunch of strangers, whether Alphas or Betas?
Just thinking about that made Min Wenyi feel sick all over!
No way!!!
“No way!!!”
Min Wenyi said sharply, “You… can’t keep deceiving people like this.”
Yu Ran looked up, slowly making a question mark on her forehead.
What did… deceiving people mean??????????
Min Wenyi looked at Yu Ran with a displeased face and said, “You already know it’s dangerous to work openly as an Omega, so don’t take the risk. Society is chaotic now, there are so many single men, going out like that is just like a sheep walking into a tiger’s den.”
Yu Ran tilted her head.
“Besides,” Min Wenyi looked at Yu Ran and said, “Since I already know you’re an Omega, I’ll keep my distance and help you keep your identity a secret.”
Yu Ran was stunned and asked, “Boss, are you… asking me to stay?”
“…Yes.”
Min Wenyi held her forehead and looked troubled. “Besides, I never said I wanted to kick you out.”
Yu Ran’s heart skipped a beat, and her eyes lit up like thousands of rainbows and stars, shining brightly.
Min Wenyi had never seen Yu Ran look so happy. Her own gloomy mood brightened as well.
“Thank you, boss!”
Yu Ran happily ran over, grabbed Min Wenyi’s hand, and jumped up and down.
“You’re such a reasonable boss! Bosses like you who provide food, lodging, and pay on time are rare!”
Yu Ran spun Min Wenyi around in circles. “I like you so much!”
Min Wenyi felt dizzy from being spun, but seeing Yu Ran’s excited face, she couldn’t bring herself to stop her.
Next time, she would have to properly teach her little assistant not to grab the boss’s hand and spin her around.
And definitely not to keep saying “I like you.”
That was dangerous.
——————
Life continued quietly and peacefully as usual.
Only…
Lu An stood blankly at the door of Min Wenyi’s house, staring at Min Wenyi, who had some strange object wrapped around her waist, and asked a soul-searching question.
“Sis Wenyi, what are you doing?”
“What am I doing?”
Min Wenyi looked up unhappily, gave the tentacle hanging from her waist a shake, and said, “Can’t you see? It’s a tentacle.”
Lu An: “…”
He knew about the tentacles, but he just couldn’t understand why anyone would want to bring tentacles home on purpose.
What kind of dangerous yet awesome hobby was that???
Yu Ran looked at Min Wenyi with a conflicted expression and sighed, “Um… Boss, I don’t think you need to do that.”
“Keeping a safe distance is what every Alpha should do.”
Min Wenyi said this as she walked casually around the living room like usual.
But the tentacles wrapped around her waist caught both their eyes, and they just couldn’t look away.
“Distance?”
Lu An looked at Min Wenyi and asked, “What distance?”
“…The distance between an Alpha and an Omega.”
“Huh?”
Lu An was confused, “I’ve known you for so long, why did you only just think about keeping distance today?”
Min Wenyi: “…”
She almost forgot there was an Omega living right across from her.
If Lu An hadn’t mentioned it, she might have totally overlooked that fact.
“Oh, just a sudden idea.” Min Wenyi touched the tentacles around her waist and pulled out an octopus helmet from a box. She said to both of them, “About ten years ago, when I was a child star, I wore this outfit on stage.”
Back then, there were a bunch of octopuses, so no one could see where I was inside.
Even so, Min Wenyi bought the outfit.
Lu An looked puzzled, but Yu Ran understood clearly.
Since Min Wenyi found out Yu Ran was an Omega a while ago, things had been different.
She didn’t let Yu Ran wash her underwear, or go upstairs, and she didn’t allow her to wear revealing clothes at home.
It was the season for heating, so wearing heavy clothes inside must be really hot, but she had to listen to the boss.
Before, when she didn’t know, everything was so casual…
Yu Ran sighed, put the shelled edamame in a small bowl, and stood up to say to them, “Today we’re having stir-fried edamame.”
“Okay.”
“Put in more chili!”
Yu Ran glanced at Lu An and said, “You’re about to have a commercial performance, why eat so much chili?”
Lu An cheerfully followed Yu Ran into the kitchen. “I canceled the commercial.”
“Huh?” Yu Ran was curious, “Why?”
“Because it conflicts with the comic convention.”
Yu Ran: “…”
She had a bad feeling about this.
Lu An looked at Yu Ran and whispered, “Little assistant, come sell doujinshi with me.”
No way I’m going!
“I’m not going!” Yu Ran dumped all the edamame into the basket and said to Lu An, “Aren’t you afraid the boss will find out who you really are?”
“Ah…”
Lu An suddenly lowered his head, fiddling with his phone, and said, “Don’t worry. If she finds out, she’ll probably be happy.”
“What are you talking about? There’s no way she would…”
Before she could finish, Yu Ran saw a Weibo private message on Lu An’s phone.
—— Conversation from a stranger ——
Min Wenyi: Hurry up with the update.
Lu An: “The Scheming Actress’s Little Assistant” is already finished.
Min Wenyi: Hurry up with the doujinshi.
Lu An: Thanks for liking it. Please follow my Weibo; I’ll announce my booth location soon.
—— End of conversation ——
Yu Ran: “…”
What the heck?
She’s even pushing for updates???
And their scripted replies were so unbelievable??
She quickly took the phone and saw that the Weibo account really belonged to Min Wenyi, complete with photos they took together.
It was that little feather hairpin ad ?.
Lu An proudly looked at her and said, “So now you have to come with me, right?”
Yu Ran didn’t believe it and shoved the phone into Lu An’s chest, pointing at the sink and saying two words: “Wash vegetables.”
You can’t just eat without doing work, and Lu An wasn’t paying her anyway.
But what worried Yu Ran more was what Min Wenyi was thinking.
She went to the living room and saw Min Wenyi had taken off the octopus outfit and was sitting on the floor flipping through something.
“Boss.”
Yu Ran stormed over, looking down at her. “Are you hiding something from me?”
Min Wenyi turned her head, looking puzzled.
Yu Ran crouched down and asked, “Are you reading some kind of… smut?”
Min Wenyi: “…”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Min Wenyi looked at Yu Ran calmly. “I’m just trying to understand myself better.”
So that’s why she’s been reading Lu An’s little smut stories!
That’s too much!
Yu Ran was really angry.
She grabbed Min Wenyi’s shoulders and shouted, “How could you…!!!”
Before she finished, she slipped and fell forward.
Min Wenyi dropped what she was holding and reached out to steady her.
“How could I what?”
The person above her asked calmly, “Do you know what I’ve done?”
When Yu Ran looked up, she saw Min Wenyi’s face with the expression, ‘What are you hiding from me now?’ and suddenly felt nervous.
She forgot to keep Lu An’s secret…
Min Wenyi saw Yu Ran staring blankly without answering, so she looked down at her own hands. She was still holding Yu Ran, and they were very close.
One meter — the safe distance.
When Min Wenyi’s hands left, Yu Ran suddenly felt empty inside.
If this was before, she would have touched her face and told her to be careful.
They used to be so close, but now that curtain had been torn away, and Min Wenyi seemed farther and farther away…
Yu Ran missed the old her.
“Hey, little assistant!” Lu An came out of the kitchen half soaked and cried, “How do you wash these veggies?”
Min Wenyi looked up and frowned.
The floor Yu Ran just cleaned was a mess thanks to this clumsy kid!
“How can you be so dumb, not even knowing how to wash vegetables?”
Min Wenyi stood up and went to the kitchen, seeing the mess. She said angrily, “What else can you do besides eat?”
“Wah, Min Wenyi, you’re so mean, wah wah wah!”
Listening to them bicker, Yu Ran got up and after a long pause said, “I’ll do it.”
After lunch, Lu An left, leaving only Min Wenyi and Yu Ran at home.
Yu Ran stared blankly at the slowly flowing water.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she hurried to turn off the almost overflowing sink.
“Yu Ran.”
Min Wenyi knocked on the kitchen door and said, “If you have time, help me buy something.”
Yu Ran nodded, “What?”
Min Wenyi calmly said, “Lu An’s ‘Exclusive Pampering.’”
In her twenty-something years, Yu Ran had never faced something so tricky.
The boss was chasing after her little smut story—what kind of new sexual harassment was this???
Huh???
And she was supposed to go buy a copy???
“Once you get it, deliver it to Yi Qiao.” Min Wenyi said calmly. “She said she wants to see it.”
One thing after another…
Yu Ran sighed, “Got it.”
After finishing the dishes, she would go get a copy for her.
Seeing Yu Ran’s unhappy look, Min Wenyi held back the urge to comfort her, squeezing her own palm to suppress the irritation inside.
It was different now. She couldn’t just casually comfort Yu Ran.
It would cause trouble—after all, she was an Alpha.
Never before had Min Wenyi wished to be a Beta, so she could freely comfort her assistant instead of having to keep a meter’s safe distance.
One meter—so far away.
Min Wenyi looked away from Yu Ran and said, “Did you forget to take your medicine this morning? You’ve been busy all day.”
Yu Ran blinked, then realized she hadn’t taken it.
“Sorry, I forgot…”
She scratched her head, no longer caring since she’d been found out. Before, she always reminded herself to take the medicine, afraid Min Wenyi would find out, but recently she kept forgetting.
“That’s okay.” Min Wenyi turned and said, “I’ll get it for you.”
After taking the medicine, listening to Min Wenyi upstairs, Yu Ran decided to knock on the door across the hall.
Lu An appeared at the door wearing glasses, and Yu Ran immediately knew he had written something ridiculous again!
“What’s up, little assistant?” Lu An asked. “I just finished an extra chapter of the tentacle story. Want to read it?”
Shut your mouth!
Yu Ran blushed, “No.”
“If you’re not reading it, then why did you come here?”
“…I have something to tell you.”
“Hm?”
Yu Ran glanced sideways, “Remember to save me a copy of your doujinshi.”
Lu An looked at her with interest and laughed, “Have you fallen for it?”
Ahhhhh, why is this guy so annoying!
Yu Ran blushed and said, “Min Wenyi wanted it, it has nothing to do with me!”
“No need to be shy. Want to come in and see? Fresh new chapter!”
“No no no, stop!!!”
After Lu An, that little troublemaker, teased her badly, Yu Ran finally escaped.
“Remember to come to the comic convention with me this Saturday,” Lu An said to Yu Ran at the door, “Or I won’t sell you any doujinshi.”
Yu Ran: “…Got it.”
She knew she couldn’t get out of this one!