Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Yu Jing couldn’t explain herself to Xiao Yihuan anymore because even she couldn’t figure out what was behind Ming Zhu’s series of bizarre behaviors.

Besides Xiao Yihuan, she wasn’t sure if the others had seen the retracted messages. She stood there, biting her nails, waiting for a while until her phone pinged again.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked down.

A new message popped up in the group chat.

Ming Zhu: “Sorry, sent it by mistake.”

Good, good, it wasn’t anyone else.

Yu Jing clutched her chest in relief, glanced at the message again, and felt a strange mix of emotions.

Sent it by mistake and specifically tagged her?

Yu Jing didn’t buy it.

It seemed like Ming Zhu’s attitude toward her had shifted ever since Zhang Xu showed up. Yu Jing had thought about it all night but couldn’t pinpoint the reason. Her gut told her there was some kind of scheme at play.

Having learned her lesson from past experiences, Yu Jing wasn’t about to naively confront Ming Zhu and fall into her trap.

She let go of the issue and calmly closed the group chat.

As the chat window closed, the group shrank into a banner at the top of the screen. Seeing the group name “Treasure Six,” changed by Chen Chen, Yu Jing suddenly felt a pang of loneliness.

In the next episode, a new member would probably take her spot, right?

Among the six regular MCs, Yu Jing had the least fame and the lowest status. Her pay was likely the smallest too, but the production team was generous, giving her 300,000 per episode, with 70% left after taxes—a hefty sum for her.

When she landed this gig, Yu Jing thought she’d have an easier few months. She didn’t expect her dream to be shattered so quickly.

She didn’t leave the group chat because exiting now would raise questions, and she dreaded the awkwardness of explaining herself.

Anyway, once the new member joined, she’d likely be kicked out.

Yu Jing silently turned off her phone and left the hospital with Xiao Ye, who had finished the discharge paperwork.

They checked out of the hotel before noon and rushed to the airport, arriving back in B City by 3 p.m.

After just two days away, everything seemed unchanged—the city was still bustling, with heavy traffic and lively noise. The roadside trees drooped under the scorching sun, which felt like it could roast a person.

The drive from the airport took nearly an hour due to traffic. As soon as they entered the apartment, Xiao Ye complained about the heat and ran to shower. Yu Jing went to her room.

Locking the door, she pushed her suitcase to the corner and walked to the bed. She opened the bottom drawer of the nightstand and pulled out an old notebook.

It was her budgeting ledger, used for three years.

The cover was badly worn, patched with clear tape, rough and unsightly. Flipping open the yellowed pages revealed her handwritten numbers, densely packed, tracking two clear expenses: 10,000 monthly to Zhou Yuying, who took it to the hospital; and 26,000 monthly to repay the bank.

Turning to the latest page, Yu Jing’s fingers paused, staring at the blank paper.

“Next month…” she murmured, trailing off, her words stuck in her throat.

After a moment, she closed the notebook.

Exhausted from the trip and covered in dust, Yu Jing didn’t care. She flopped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, looking like she was ready to give up.

She suddenly wanted to sleep.

Ideally, a sleep she’d never wake from.

But when she closed her eyes, she couldn’t sleep.

After half an hour of wallowing, Xiao Ye, fresh from her shower, knocked and asked if she was hungry and wanted to order takeout.

Yu Jing mentally calculated the minimum order and delivery fees, then jumped up, opened the door, and stopped Xiao Ye’s hand on the takeout app. “Let’s eat noodles today. I’ll cook.”

“Sweet!” Xiao Ye was thrilled. “Your cooking’s way better than takeout.”

Yu Jing pinched her cheek and smiled. “Give me a sec.”

“Alright!”

Yu Jing went to the kitchen and opened the fridge, only to find it empty. She headed to the downstairs supermarket.

It was the weekend, and the supermarket was holding a sale. Thinking she might not have new gigs for the next month, Yu Jing stocked up on discounted meat and vegetables. She returned with a full bag, handing the extras to Xiao Ye to store in the fridge while keeping only what she needed to make noodles.

Ten minutes later, two bowls of budget-friendly tomato egg noodles were ready.

Xiao Ye, salivating from the aroma, slurped down the soft, fragrant noodles quickly, finishing in no time. She downed the last of the soup, smacked her lips in satisfaction, and looked up to see Yu Jing’s bowl barely touched.

Yu Jing picked up a noodle with her chopsticks, slowly putting it in her mouth, her expression heavy, as if criticizing her own cooking.

Xiao Ye wiped her mouth with a tissue, noticing Yu Jing’s troubled look, and quietly picked up her phone.

*Ding-dong—*

Yu Jing’s phone chimed.

She grabbed it, thinking it was a group message, but saw a transfer notification and looked at Xiao Ye. “Why’d you send me so much money?”

Twenty thousand wasn’t a lot, but it was all of Xiao Ye’s savings. Her cheeks flushed as she said softly, “The company covers food and lodging, so I don’t spend much. You can use this for now.”

Yu Jing’s throat tightened, overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion.

Xiao Ye must have thought she was short on cash and sent her everything she had.

But what kind of artist borrows money from their assistant? Without hesitation, Yu Jing rejected the transfer.

Meeting Xiao Ye’s confused gaze, Yu Jing forced a smile. “I don’t need it this month.”

Xiao Ye looked at the returned money, her expression conflicted. Seeing Yu Jing’s smiling eyes, she hesitated and said, “If you need it later, tell me. I’ll keep it for you.”

Yu Jing gave an “OK” gesture, put down her phone, and shoved a mouthful of noodles into her mouth.

The steam stung her eyes, and the noodles tasted slightly sour on her tongue.

She was such a failure. Three years in the industry and still a nobody, dragging her assistant down with her to pinch pennies.

The fluffy, tender egg burned her tongue with its hot broth. Yu Jing silently winced, swallowing the food despite the pain, her lashes lowered as she stared at the softening noodles, her emotions churning.

After giving up so much and working so hard, was this really all she could achieve?

She suddenly felt so unwilling.

Her knuckles whitened around the chopsticks as a voice grew in her mind: Apologize to Zhang Xu. Maybe if he’s in a good mood, he’ll let you stay for all twelve episodes.

The voice kept urging her on.

Yu Jing set down her chopsticks and took a deep breath.

No matter the outcome, she wanted to try.

But when she picked up her phone, she realized she didn’t have Zhang Xu’s contact.

The only staff member she had on WeChat was Xiao Ya, the artist coordinator, who probably didn’t have the investor’s contact either.

Yu Jing made up her mind but hit a dead end.

Propping her chin, she was fretting when her phone rang.

This time, it wasn’t WeChat—it was a call from Shen Jiayu.

Yu Jing quickly answered, “Sister Jiayu?”

Shen Jiayu hummed and asked, “You guys back?”

Yu Jing glanced at her noodles, her tone listless. “Yeah, eating noodles.”

Shen Jiayu wasn’t calling to chat. She got to the point: “I just talked to Yang Ming. He said there’s no news about replacing guests for the next episode.”

Yu Jing’s fingers, tapping the bowl’s edge, froze. “What does that mean?”

Shen Jiayu: “It seems Zhang Xu doesn’t plan to replace you for now.”

Yu Jing was stunned.

Zhang Xu, whom she’d stepped on, wasn’t making trouble for her and was generously letting her stay on the show?

She’d only met Zhang Xu twice, both times being harassed. She didn’t know him well but had heard plenty of bad rumors about his messy personal life and womanizing. Would someone with such a bad reputation really be so forgiving?

Yu Jing didn’t trust Zhang Xu’s character one bit, but the good news lifted her spirits.

“Great that I can keep filming,” she said cheerfully.

Shen Jiayu was worried, seeing Zhang Xu as a potential threat and fearing Yu Jing might face more harassment. She urged her to think carefully.

“No need to think. I’m filming!” Yu Jing said firmly.

In the face of hardship, pride and principles seemed trivial. She needed exposure, fame, and money. Staying on the show was her only way out of her immediate troubles.

Shen Jiayu was silent for a long time, likely understanding her struggles, and didn’t try to dissuade her.

That evening, Yu Jing received a notice from Xiao Ya to shoot a promo at 9 a.m. the next day.

Yu Jing replied with excitement.

In the six-person group chat, Chen Chen was whining about the early time, saying he couldn’t get up.

Yu Jing teased him: “Brother Chen, us young folks have to rise early.”

Chen Chen: “Who says? Young people never get up early or eat breakfast!”

Peng Ze chimed in: “You daring to be late tomorrow?”

Xie Haichao: “Late? Xiao Chen, you getting cocky, making your big bro wait?”

Chen Chen: “No, no, Brother Chao, I’ll be the first one there!”

Xiao Yihuan: “Hahahaha”

The group bantered for a few minutes before quieting down.

As Yu Jing closed the chat, she noticed the out-of-place cute cat avatar in the group list, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind.

Ming Zhu was still in the group.

If she thought about last night’s events, Yu Jing felt Ming Zhu had offended Zhang Xu far more than she had. She’d only stepped on his foot, but Ming Zhu had directly challenged his dignity as a male Alpha.

When Ming Zhu confronted Zhang Xu, Yu Jing was overwhelmed by their pheromones, struggling to suppress her own while marveling at Ming Zhu’s boldness. Ming Zhu had decent popularity but was at best a B-lister. Where did she get the guts to clash with an investor like Zhang Xu?

Even more surprising, despite Ming Zhu’s pheromone showdown that left Zhang Xu humiliated, he wasn’t replacing her either?

So, they’d have to meet again?

Yu Jing recalled Ming Zhu’s three baffling moves and had a bad feeling.

The next day.

Yu Jing woke up at 7 a.m., washed up, and skipped makeup. She threw on a daisy-printed sundress and flats, cooked two bowls of frozen dumplings for herself and Xiao Ye, and headed out after eating.

She arrived at the studio at 8 a.m.

Thinking she was the first, Yu Jing was told by Xiao Ya that someone had beaten her there.

She wanted to ask if it was Ming Zhu but felt the question was too deliberate, like she was scared of her, so she held back.

Xiao Ya led her to the makeup room. Praying it wasn’t Ming Zhu, Yu Jing pushed open the door and saw Xiao Yihuan, her tense nerves relaxing as she waved with a smile. “Yihuan, you’re early.”

Xiao Yihuan flashed a big grin. “Only five minutes before you.”

Yu Jing sat beside her, noticing leftover makeup and a tired look on her face. “Did you just fly back from A City?”

Xiao Yihuan shrugged, her face scrunching. “Yeah. The shoot went late, so I took the earliest flight back. Got less than five hours of sleep—I’m exhausted.”

She yawned as she spoke.

Seeing her fatigue, with plenty of time before 9 a.m., Yu Jing said, “Why don’t you nap for a bit?”

“Nah, I brought coffee.” Xiao Yihuan pulled a bottled coffee from her bag, took a sip, then looked sheepish. “I only brought one.”

Yu Jing glanced at the mineral water bottles on the table, prepared for the artists, covered in condensation. She picked one up and smiled. “No worries, I’ll drink this.”

Xiao Yihuan relaxed, took another sip, screwed the cap back on, and glanced at the closed door with a sly look.

Yu Jing found her expression amusing. “What are you looking at?”

Xiao Yihuan’s eyes darted back, scooting her chair closer, whispering mysteriously, “Can I ask you something?”

Yu Jing raised an eyebrow. “Go ahead.”

“Your friend, Wu Dan Ni, is she dating someone?”

Yu Jing’s casual expression vanished, and she looked at her in surprise. “I don’t think so… Why do you ask?”

Xiao Yihuan fiddled with her coffee bottle, tilting her head, her tone uncertain. “Last night, while changing backstage, I saw a red mark on her chest that looked like a hickey.”

A hickey?!

Yu Jing’s heart jolted.

Seeing her clueless reaction, Xiao Yihuan quickly added, “But I might’ve been mistaken. Could be an allergy or something.”

Yu Jing’s suspicions were raised, thinking: I’ll have to ask Wu Dan Ni when she’s back.

*Click—*

The door lock clicked as someone entered. They dropped the sensitive topic and turned to look.

The door opened, and a tall figure walked in. Yu Jing’s left eyelid twitched reflexively.

Ming Zhu was also in a dress today, high-waisted, accentuating her slim waist and long legs. The muted gray-blue fabric exuded a cool, aloof vibe, perfectly matching her demeanor.

One hand in her pocket, her slender ankles turned in heels as she closed the door. Turning around, her gaze locked with Yu Jing’s.

Yu Jing’s eyes flicked upward.

Ming Zhu stared straight at her, her pale lips moving slightly. “Good morning.”

Yu Jing’s pupils widened. Those three words shocked her more than the “hickey” comment. Because Ming Zhu was looking at her.

As if Xiao Yihuan didn’t exist, Ming Zhu walked straight toward her.

Yu Jing’s heart raced inexplicably, that bad feeling rising again. Fearing another unexpected move, she shifted her chair.

Ming Zhu paused.

Pretending not to notice her, Yu Jing turned to Xiao Yihuan.

Xiao Yihuan didn’t mind Ming Zhu’s greeting wasn’t for her. Her dark eyes darted between them, giving Yu Jing a teasing wink and an ambiguous smile.

Yu Jing knew from that look that Xiao Yihuan’s mind was running wild again, and she felt a headache coming on.

Xiao Yihuan couldn’t hold back. “You two…”

“We’re shooting soon. You drinking that coffee or not?” Yu Jing, sensing no good would come from her words, cut her off sharply.

Xiao Yihuan read her awkward expression and suppressed her gossiping urge, picking up her coffee with a grin.

She tried unscrewing it but failed after a few attempts, muttering in surprise, “I opened it fine earlier. Why’s it so tight now?”

Yu Jing remembered her fiddling with the cap while talking, likely tightening it by accident. Seeing her struggle, Yu Jing sighed, “Let me.”

Xiao Yihuan handed her the bottle, showing her reddened palms.

Yu Jing looked at her pitiful hands, thinking: You sweet Omegas are so delicate, can’t even open a bottle.

Confident, Yu Jing took the bottle, expecting to open it easily, but after straining until her face turned red, the cap wouldn’t budge.

“Even you can’t open it?” Xiao Yihuan watched eagerly, saying offhandedly, “I thought all Alphas were super strong.”

All Alphas…

Yu Jing snapped awake.

She’d forgotten she’d differentiated into an Omega.

Quickly accepting her new identity, she still wasn’t convinced. She used to open bottles for Xiao Ye—why would differentiating make her weaker?

Refusing to believe it, Yu Jing gritted her teeth, using all her strength. The cap stayed put. Worse, her hand slipped from the effort, and the slick bottle fell.

A slender hand caught it steadily.

Yu Jing looked up, her expression freezing as she saw Ming Zhu’s face suddenly close.

Ming Zhu, quick and steady, caught the bottle, glanced at her, and effortlessly twisted the cap open.

Yu Jing stared, dumbfounded.

Ming Zhu turned the cap a few more times, separating it from the bottle, the rich coffee aroma spilling out. She handed it back to Xiao Yihuan.

“Thanks, thanks!” Xiao Yihuan held the coffee but didn’t drink, looking between Ming Zhu’s relaxed demeanor and Yu Jing’s flushed face, muttering, “So there’s that big a difference between differentiated and undifferentiated.”

“…” Yu Jing covered her face, too embarrassed to respond.

Lowering her hand, she found Ming Zhu staring at her intensely again, making her scalp tingle.

This jerk wasn’t about to pull another weird move, was she?!

Stay calm, stay calm. If the enemy doesn’t move, I won’t either.

Under Ming Zhu’s piercing gaze, Yu Jing turned away, looking for something to hide her inner turmoil.

Spotting the mineral water bottle, she grabbed it to open and drink, but her wet hands and distracted mind made it impossible to unscrew.

“Need help?” A gentle voice came from above as a slender, beautiful hand reached out.

The hand was gorgeous, with faint palm lines, long, straight fingers, and neatly trimmed nails, unpainted but glossy with health.

Yu Jing blinked, her gaze following the hand to its owner, meeting Ming Zhu’s calm, non-cold eyes, and froze.

Ming Zhu watched her steadily.

Yu Jing leaned back, her suspicious eyes scanning Ming Zhu up and down. “Are you really possessed or something?”

“Pfft—” Xiao Yihuan spat out her coffee.

“!!!” Yu Jing, sprayed in the face, turned to Xiao Yihuan, shocked and innocent.

“Sorry, sorry, it wasn’t on purpose!” Xiao Yihuan scrambled for tissues to wipe Yu Jing’s face.

After cleaning up, Yu Jing still felt sticky and stood with a blank expression. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Xiao Yihuan wanted to go with her but, remembering she was an Omega and mindful of AO differences to avoid gossip, sat back down.

A breeze passed as Ming Zhu strode after Yu Jing.

Xiao Yihuan stared at the open door and Ming Zhu’s retreating figure, blinking rapidly.

She was the one who sprayed Yu Jing, not Ming Zhu—why was Ming Zhu more anxious than her?

The public bathroom wasn’t gender-specific, and Yu Jing didn’t close the door. She washed her face and reached for the paper towels.

Before she touched the dispenser, a sheet appeared in her hand as if it had legs.

Yu Jing wiped her face, then realized something was off. Turning, she nearly cursed in shock.

Clutching the paper, she stepped aside, glaring at Ming Zhu, who had followed her. Done with subtlety, she snapped, “What do you want?”

Ming Zhu showed no shame for tailing her, her gaze sweeping over the water droplets on Yu Jing’s face to her wary eyes. After a pause, she dodged the question. “I added you on WeChat, but you haven’t accepted.”

Yu Jing pressed her back against the sink, her tone sharp. “Why should I? Are we close?”

Ming Zhu faltered, her usually composed face showing rare embarrassment. Her eyes lowered, and she said softly, “That night, you asked why I was hostile toward you. I didn’t get to answer… Don’t you want to know why anymore?”

Yu Jing wiped a drop from her chin, silent.

At first, she’d been desperate to know, but Zhang Xu’s interruption shifted her focus. She thought she’d never see Ming Zhu again, so she stopped caring about the truth. Who’d have guessed her luck—Zhang Xu didn’t replace her.

Given the situation, they’d have to work together for at least one more episode.

Should she stay clueless and despised, or find out if she’d done something to earn Ming Zhu’s dislike?

A battle raged in Yu Jing’s mind. Finally, reason won.

She tensed, forgetting to wipe her face, crumpling the paper as she looked at Ming Zhu, her throat tight. “Go ahead, tell me.”

Ming Zhu glanced at the door, where anyone could enter. “This isn’t the place. Let’s go somewhere else.”

…

The safety door at the end of the corridor was pushed open, and two figures slipped in.

The stairwell was empty and quiet, perfect for secrets.

Yu Jing followed Ming Zhu, keeping a few meters’ distance, leaning against the wall and inching toward the door.

Given Ming Zhu’s recent bizarre behavior, Yu Jing didn’t fully trust her. Her hand quietly gripped the doorknob, ready to bolt if Ming Zhu tried anything.

Ming Zhu didn’t notice her subtle movements, focusing on Yu Jing’s eyes with a serious expression. “I’m sorry.”

Yu Jing’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

A flicker of discomfort crossed Ming Zhu’s face, her long lashes trembling slightly. She spoke softly, “Before, I misunderstood you.”

“Misunderstood what?” Yu Jing’s heart stirred with surprise.

“…” Yu Jing’s eyes, dark and bright like pearls, made Ming Zhu feel a pang of guilt. Unable to hold her gaze, she glanced away, noticing Yu Jing’s bare wrist. “Where’s your bracelet?”

Yu Jing let go of the doorknob, turning her wrist with a glum expression. “It broke. I’m not wearing it.”

That night, leaving the restaurant, Yu Jing went straight to the hospital. Later, she tried cleaning the bracelet and found it broken. The delicate chain had snapped—whether caught on a branch or crushed by her grip, she wasn’t sure. Unable to wear it, she kept it in her bag, planning to check if a jeweler could fix it.

Feeling Ming Zhu staring at her wrist, Yu Jing grew uneasy, hiding her hand behind her back and squinting. “What does my bracelet have to do with you disliking me?”

After all this, still no point. Yu Jing wondered if Ming Zhu was stalling on purpose, her guard rising.

Ming Zhu’s gaze returned to her face, studying her for a few seconds before taking a breath. “I remembered you because of that bracelet. The misunderstanding started because of it.”

“???” Yu Jing was utterly confused.

The bracelet was a handmade gift from Wu Dan Ni after KISS disbanded two years ago. It wasn’t expensive or unique, but it meant a lot to Yu Jing, so she always wore it. To an outsider, it was just an ordinary item. How could it make someone remember her? And cause a misunderstanding?

Yu Jing, baffled, waited for her to continue.

Ming Zhu’s brow furrowed, as if choosing her words carefully. “Last year, I overheard that Zhang Xu had his eye on a singer named Yu Jing. Then I saw him in an elevator being all touchy with a girl. She was wearing the exact same bracelet as you.”

Yu Jing’s mouth fell open, her mind swirling with doubts, but she didn’t interrupt.

Ming Zhu pressed her lips together and went on, “I didn’t see her face. Then, at last year’s red carpet, you came up to greet me. I saw your bracelet and smelled Zhang Xu’s pheromones on you, so I thought… the girl in the elevator with him was you.”

“But last night, I saw another woman wearing the same bracelet, and I realized I’d been wrong all along.”

“I’m sorry.”