Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The cramped bathroom was littered with scattered toiletries.

The girl, like a frail kitten, clutched Ming Zhu’s ankle and pant leg with soft paws, whimpering pleadingly.

The floor was covered in non-slip tiles, white with crisscrossing branch-like lines. Ming Zhu’s thoughts and emotions were as tangled as those branches.

Yu Jing was an Omega.

How could Yu Jing be an Omega?

It was too bizarre.

If not for the restless pheromones in her body, Ming Zhu might have thought she was sleepwalking.

She’d never encountered an Omega in heat before, but one glance confirmed it—Yu Jing was in heat.

And it was intense. Yu Jing couldn’t control her pheromones, which spread everywhere.

Fresh, juicy strawberries mashed and mixed with rich milk, stirred, blended, and steamed in the heat. The scent was overwhelming, but for an Alpha, it was the most irresistible aphrodisiac.

The girl before her exposed herself without reserve. In her heat, she writhed, her nightdress riding up to her thighs, her long legs swaying dizzyingly. Her cheeks burned with an unnatural flush, her peach-blossom eyes misty, their depths and corners tinged pink, like a freshly bloomed, seductive flower.

Her cat-like whimpers were sickly sweet.

With her voice and scent, she did everything to entice someone to claim her.

So tender, yet her every move was utterly captivating.

Ming Zhu’s pheromones screamed to break free. Clutching her racing chest, she fought the deadly temptation with willpower, lips pressed tight, resisting the urge to touch the alluring girl.

The heat was fierce. The girl, experiencing her first heat, had no idea how to handle it. She couldn’t even tell who was in front of her, only that it was an Alpha, instinctively wanting to be claimed.

Her body was hot, empty, unbearable.

“Help me…” Her kitten-like voice was pitiful, soft, and sweet, enticing without knowing.

Any normal Alpha would be moved by her state.

Ming Zhu couldn’t guarantee she’d stay in control under such potent pheromones.

So, the best solution was to keep her distance.

Tilting her neck, Ming Zhu forced herself not to look at the girl’s tempting body, her throat tight, voice hoarse. “Sorry.”

The girl was too weak to hold on. Ming Zhu gently freed herself from the scalding hand, turned, and hurried out.

Her fingers touched the cold metal doorknob, but she hesitated.

As a responsible Alpha, avoiding an Omega in heat was basic decency. But leaving Yu Jing like this—what would happen to her?

An Omega in heat needed either an Alpha’s mark or a suppressant. Left unchecked, Yu Jing could be consumed by desire or burned out by the heat.

And her pheromones, so potent, were contained in the small bathroom for now. But if they spread, every Alpha in the building or nearby would be stirred.

Chen Chen and Xie Haichao likely didn’t know Yu Jing was an Omega.

“Don’t go…”

The girl’s pleading voice made Ming Zhu turn back.

Looking at the fragile Omega, Ming Zhu struggled to connect her to the lively, bouncing girl from before.

Yu Jing had deceived her.

Ming Zhu recalled their first night here. Drunk, Yu Jing was soft and clingy, tugging at her playfully. Ming Zhu had found it odd—an Alpha acting like a sweet Omega after drinking.

Now it made sense.

That explained why Yu Jing panicked when Ming Zhu picked up her suppressant.

Another case of an Omega posing as an Alpha.

Ming Zhu’s feelings were complicated.

She didn’t know how Yu Jing’s genes mutated from a near-Alpha to an Omega, or why she hid it. But she couldn’t just leave her.

She had to get her to a hospital.

But first, she needed to suppress Yu Jing’s runaway pheromones, or it’d cause trouble if they leaked.

Ming Zhu remembered she had a suppressant. Squatting a meter away, she looked into Yu Jing’s watery eyes and asked softly, “Where’s your suppressant?”

Yu Jing, uncomprehending, stared with misty eyes, her hands reaching for her. “Help me…”

Ming Zhu sighed inwardly.

Unable to get answers, the longer they delayed, the worse Yu Jing’s heat became, and the stronger her pheromones grew. Ming Zhu gave up talking.

“Wait for me.”

The pheromones inside were too strong. Ming Zhu didn’t open the door wide, slipping out sideways and rushing to Yu Jing’s bed.

Ignoring privacy concerns to help, Ming Zhu searched her nightstand—nothing. Then her bag—still nothing. Her gaze landed on a suitcase by the wall.

Perhaps forgotten, the lock was open. Ming Zhu flipped it open. The suitcase was nearly empty, except for a tightly zipped compartment, slightly bulging. Unzipping it, she found an Omega-specific suppressant.

Clutching it, Ming Zhu raced back to the bathroom.

The doorknob felt heavier, but she didn’t think much, pushing it open.

A shadow flashed. Before she could see, a soft, fragrant body threw itself into her arms.

The overwhelming sweet scent hit her, nearly breaking her control. Steadying herself, Ming Zhu looked down, shocked at the girl who’d thrown herself at her.

Yu Jing had used all her strength to reach the door. Ming Zhu’s cool temperature and scent eased her burning body. So comfortable.

But not enough, far from enough.

“Yu Jing, don’t do this.” Ming Zhu struggled as Yu Jing rubbed against her, clearly out of it, not listening.

Ming Zhu had to pry her off, pressing her into a nearby chair. One hand held her shoulder, the other grabbed the suppressant, spraying it over her body.

The cool spray hit Yu Jing’s face, fading her flush slightly, her hazy eyes clearing a bit.

Seeing it worked, Ming Zhu kept spraying.

Hiss—

At the critical moment, the 30ml suppressant ran dry.

Ming Zhu looked at the empty bottle, then at the dazed Yu Jing, anxiety rising.

“Any more?” she asked.

Yu Jing didn’t answer, tilting her head, her burning cheek rubbing against Ming Zhu’s cool hand.

Startled, Ming Zhu yanked her hand back.

Losing that comforting coolness, Yu Jing looked at her with innocent, resentful eyes, her red lips exhaling sweet breath, repeating, “Help me.”

Ming Zhu’s throat was dry and tight. She looked away, not answering.

It wasn’t enough.

The suppressant’s effect faded fast, the sweet scent growing thicker. Ming Zhu decided to check Yu Jing’s wardrobe for more.

Seeing her turn again, Yu Jing felt heartbroken, shakily standing to hug her from behind.

Ming Zhu, shocked, instinctively moved to push her away.

Yu Jing’s cool, sleek hair brushed her nose, carrying shampoo and a maddening cold tea scent from beneath her thick hair.

Alpha pheromones.

Like a parched person smelling life-giving water, Yu Jing frantically pushed aside Ming Zhu’s hair, spotting the fragrant wound on her neck.

There it was.

Licking her dry lips, Yu Jing lunged, sucking desperately at the wound.

Ming Zhu’s spine stiffened, her mind blanking. By the time she moved to push her away, it was too late.

The girl fell back into the chair, a trace of fresh bl00d on her lips, like a vampire sprite from a castle, bewitching all.

Ming Zhu was stunned.

Not wasting a drop, Yu Jing’s tongue curled, swallowing the bl00d, smacking her lips with a radiant smile.

“So fragrant.”

“…”

Her satisfied look was identical to when she drunkenly bit Ming Zhu that night.

Ming Zhu clutched the freshly bleeding wound, her heart in turmoil.

Yu Jing had claimed it was an accidental dream-bite, and Ming Zhu let it go. But this was different.

Alphas mark Omegas three ways: blending saliva or bl00d, biting the gland, or physical bonding. The first two are temporary, the last permanent.

Ming Zhu hadn’t intended to mark her, but Yu Jing had unwittingly taken her bl00d…

…

When Yu Jing woke, her body was limp, her mind foggy. Lying still, she stared at the ceiling with bleary eyes.

She’d had a long, strange dream.

Her body felt like it was burning, then an ice block appeared, and she desperately tried to grab it. The harder she held, the faster it slipped away. Frantic, she bit it, finding it fragrant. She sucked its cool water, feeling euphoric.

But one bite was too little.

Savoring the taste, she licked her lips, touching a mesh fabric—a black mask.

She hadn’t worn a mask to bed. Who put it on?

Puzzled, Yu Jing was about to remove it.

A young, unfamiliar voice spoke. “Mom, this lady’s weird, wearing a mask to sleep.”

Yu Jing turned, seeing a white curtain by the bed, partially lifted by a five- or six-year-old girl with pigtails, her dark eyes curious. Noticing Yu Jing awake, she dropped the curtain guiltily and vanished.

Stunned, Yu Jing scanned the room, realizing it wasn’t the guesthouse.

White bed curtains, white sheets, a needle in her hand, and an IV bag beside her—she was in a hospital.

But how odd. She’d only gone to the bathroom at night. How did she end up here?

Touching her forehead, it felt hot, like a fever.

Her mind sluggish, Yu Jing dazedly surveyed the unfamiliar ward. It was simple, a standard room.

Other patients seemed nearby. She faintly heard the girl talking to her mother.

“Shh, she’s sick. Don’t disturb her.”

“She came to the hospital alone? That’s so sad.”

The rest faded.

Yu Jing sat up slowly, vaguely hearing someone enter the ward.

Through the curtain’s hem, she saw a woman’s feet—lovely ankles, long feet in nude low heels, approaching with a slow click-clack.

A slender hand lifted the curtain, and a tall, slim woman stepped in.

She wore a black mask too.

It covered half her face, but Yu Jing recognized her by her amber phoenix eyes—Ming Zhu.

Surprised, she said, “It’s you?”

Ming Zhu, in nude slacks and a nude shirt, paused slightly as their eyes met, her gaze shifting.

In a flash, Ming Zhu removed her mask, looking directly at her. “Awake?”

Yu Jing nodded, noticing Ming Zhu’s bare face looked tired, her complexion poor.

“Did you bring me to the hospital?” Yu Jing asked.

Ming Zhu folded the mask, its strap dangling from her fingers, her gaze dark, not answering immediately.

It was surreal. Ming Zhu thought Yu Jing would be fine after taking her bl00d, but she’d fainted. Terrified, Ming Zhu borrowed the guesthouse owner’s car and rushed her to the town’s only hospital.

Thankfully, the bl00d mark worked, controlling Yu Jing’s pheromones, or the trip could’ve caused chaos.

Ming Zhu wondered if her bl00d was toxic. Tests showed it was a fever from heat.

Last night, Yu Jing was unconscious. Now, she seemed fine.

Pocketing the folded mask, Ming Zhu’s expression softened. “Who else would it be?”

Yu Jing thought it might be Xiao Ye, but she wasn’t here. Coughing lightly, she said sheepishly, “Sorry, I was feverish. I don’t remember you bringing me.”

Ming Zhu’s brow furrowed slightly, her gaze odd. “Nothing at all?”

Holding her burning forehead, Yu Jing said without thinking, “I remember playing on my phone until I fell asleep, then getting up with a stomachache, and then…”

Then, like she’d been drugged, her body went limp, burning, desperate for relief…

Memories flooded back, and Yu Jing’s heart skipped, looking at Ming Zhu in panic, her voice trembling. “You… you know.”

It wasn’t a question. She remembered.

Though she’d never experienced it and was too feverish to understand, now clear-headed, Yu Jing realized. Last night, she’d had her first Omega heat, and Ming Zhu had seen it…

That “dream” wasn’t a dream. The ice wasn’t ice—it was Ming Zhu.

Her mind buzzed, unable to think further.

She heard her heart collapse: It’s over. I’m exposed.

Yu Jing had already regretted slipping up before, letting Ming Zhu know her differentiation secret. This was worse.

She wished it was just a dream.

But Ming Zhu didn’t let her delude herself.

Those amber eyes looked deeply at her, her lips cruelly confirming, “Yeah, I know.”

“…”

Yu Jing couldn’t describe her feelings—regret for repeatedly embarrassing herself, shame, confusion, unease.

The doctor had told her heat usually followed differentiation dates, to remember it to avoid trouble. Yu Jing had, but her heat came half a month early.

She didn’t know why it was so early, so she hadn’t thought of it at first.

The doctor said first heats were intense, and she was prepared, but not for how terrifying it was. She’d passed out.

Before fainting, she’d sucked bl00d from Ming Zhu’s wound.

Her heart raced.

After differentiating, she’d researched marking and heats, learning bl00d fusion was a marking method.

So, drinking Ming Zhu’s bl00d meant Ming Zhu had temporarily marked her…

Yu Jing shook her head, not daring to think further.

Beyond the temporary mark, there was a bigger issue.

Her fingers tightened, looking nervously at Ming Zhu. “Don’t you have questions?”

She was clearly an Omega but posed as an Alpha. Anyone normal would ask.

But Ming Zhu didn’t seem to want to.

Nor was she angry about the deception, just looking at her with an unreadable gaze, slowly shaking her head.

Yu Jing’s nails dug into her palm. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Can you keep it a secret?”

“…”

Yu Jing had hidden her secondary gender because she couldn’t accept being an Omega and was stubborn with Ming Zhu. She feared Ming Zhu and haters would mock her.

After clearing up their misunderstanding, Yu Jing’s view of Ming Zhu softened, and she slowly accepted her gender, but still didn’t want others to know, especially someone like Zhang Xu with ulterior motives.

Maybe her request was too much. Ming Zhu stayed silent, watching her.

The mother and daughter next door left, and the ward fell quiet, a pin drop audible.

Yu Jing heard herself swallow, inching forward, removing her mask, looking up pleadingly with soft whispers. “Can you?”

Ming Zhu’s eyes lowered, seeing the pale hand tugging her clothes, then the girl’s ashen face.

Her heat was over, the unnatural flush gone, but the fever had drained her, leaving her frail. Her face was bloodless, but her lips were vivid red, parting slightly as she pleaded, curving enticingly.

Recalling last night’s details, Ming Zhu’s heartbeat faltered.

Looking away, she pulled her clothes free, saying calmly, “I don’t spread others’ secrets.”

In short, she agreed.

The tension in Yu Jing’s heart eased. She forced a smile. “Thank you.”

Ming Zhu looked at her, hesitating to speak.

The ward door burst open.

Wheels rolled across the floor, footsteps nearing.

Ming Zhu put her mask back on.

Yu Jing, startled, followed suit.

Swish—

The bed curtain was yanked open. A nurse pushed a cart in, checking her patient list impassively. “Yu Jing, right?”

Yu Jing’s fingers hooked the mask’s edge, her exposed eyes stealing a glance at Ming Zhu.

She guessed Ming Zhu had put the mask on her.

Though she doubted anyone would recognize her with her current fame, she appreciated Ming Zhu’s thoughtfulness. If “Yu Jing hospitalized in heat” leaked, it’d trend.

Grateful, Yu Jing glanced at Ming Zhu, lowering her voice to the nurse. “Yes.”

The nurse seemed indifferent to her name, pulling out a digital thermometer, scanning her forehead. Beep. “37.5°C. Still a slight fever.”

Yu Jing didn’t respond.

The nurse checked the IV bag, speeding it up, then examined the fever medicine on the nightstand. “Had breakfast?”

Yu Jing shook her head.

Pointing at the medicine, the nurse ordered, “There’s a cafeteria downstairs, or food stalls outside. Have your girlfriend get you breakfast. Eat, then take the medicine after half an hour.”

Yu Jing caught a key word, blurting, “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

The nurse pointed at the silent Ming Zhu, skeptical. “She’s not your girlfriend?”

Yu Jing’s eyes widened.

Before she could clarify, Ming Zhu said coolly, “We’re just friends.”

Yu Jing nodded quickly.

“Friends?” The nurse’s doubtful gaze flicked between them, settling on Ming Zhu. “I remember you carried her in last night.”

Few patients came at midnight, and Ming Zhu’s striking presence—her attire and figure—made her memorable. Both wearing masks made it unmistakable.

Ming Zhu’s eyes flickered, glancing at Yu Jing on the bed, explaining softly, “She fainted last night, so I had to carry her. That doesn’t mean we’re a couple.”

“Sorry, my mistake.”

Embarrassed, the nurse pushed her cart away.

Ming Zhu removed one mask strap, looking at the weak girl on the bed. “Let’s talk.”

Yu Jing mimicked her, confused. “About what?”

Ming Zhu’s gaze was heavy, staring at her, speaking slowly. “About me marking you last night… What do you think?”