Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 54

Chapter 54

The plane sliced through the clear blue sky like an arrow piercing the clouds.

The head flight attendant’s sweet voice came through the intercom, first in Chinese, then in English. After the announcement, the lively cabin gradually quieted down. Some people read books, some listened to music or watched movies with earbuds, some whispered, and some slept.

A cool hand tugged at the mask bunched under Yu Jing’s chin, gently pulled it up to her straight nose, checked both sides for symmetry, confirmed it was on properly, then naturally tucked her messy bangs behind her ears.

Her ears were extra sensitive. Yu Jing, stunned for a moment, reacted slowly, wanted to pull away, but Ming Zhu had already tactfully withdrawn her hand.

Ming Zhu even stole her words, saying, “If you’re tired, you can take a nap.”

Feeding her candy, adjusting her mask, fixing her hair, reminding her to sleep—Ming Zhu’s actions went far beyond normal Alpha-Omega interactions. The perfect balance of intimacy, flirty but not crude, didn’t make her uncomfortable, but Yu Jing’s heart felt more flustered, more chaotic.

The thumb-sized throat lozenge melted in her mouth, its cool sweetness sliding down her throat, silently softening a hard spot in her heart.

She couldn’t handle this gentleness, didn’t dare meet Ming Zhu’s loving gaze, mumbled an “mm,” adjusted her seat under Ming Zhu’s undeniable stare, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes.

She hadn’t rested well last night and woke up early, so Yu Jing was truly tired. But whether it was the lozenge’s sharpness or Ming Zhu sitting beside her, she couldn’t fall asleep.

She clearly heard a flight attendant push a cart by, heard the attendant’s hushed conversation with Ming Zhu.

The attendant asked, “Would you like something to drink?”

Ming Zhu said, “I’ll take two bottles of mineral water. Can you get me a blanket?”

The attendant replied, “Sure, please wait.”

Ming Zhu said, “Thank you.”

A few minutes later, the attendant returned with a blanket.

Yu Jing only heard rustling sounds. After a while, she felt someone gently drape the blanket over her.

Smelling the familiar cold fragrance, knowing it was Ming Zhu, Yu Jing didn’t dare make a sound or move, kept her eyes closed, and continued pretending to sleep.

Ming Zhu tucked her in, still leaning sideways, taking advantage of her “sleep” to openly admire her face.

Yu Jing wore light makeup, her fine peach fuzz showed a youthful charm, her naturally curled lashes cast a shadow, looking utterly obedient.

Ming Zhu’s gaze traced her features inch by inch, finally caught by the faint tear mole at the corner of her eye.

Amid the faint hum of the plane, Ming Zhu tuned out the surroundings, stared at the tear mole, and recalled their couple’s shoot.

This mole, this spot—she’d kissed it twice. The first time, the girl was too nervous to look at her; the second, the girl, moved, shyly gazed back.

Ming Zhu remembered that heart-fluttering moment, thought itchingly, “If I kissed her now, would she jump up in fright?”

Her hand followed her heart. Ming Zhu’s fingers, resting on the armrest, slowly lifted, reached toward those captivating eyes.

Before touching, the butterfly-like lashes, sensing danger, fluttered lightly.

Ming Zhu froze, her fingers millimeters away, paused.

Glancing sideways, she saw Yu Jing’s twitching ear tip, looked back at the betraying lashes, pressed her lips to suppress a laugh.

Ming Zhu knew she was faking sleep. Every time something stirred nearby, her hands, ears, and lashes made subtle movements. She thought she hid it well, but she’d long given herself away.

Ming Zhu didn’t call her out. As long as she was nearby, talking seemed less important.

Suppressing the itch in her heart, Ming Zhu leaned back, sat properly, and played along with her act.

Yu Jing wasn’t faking the whole time. She did fall asleep briefly, but lightly, woke when someone spoke, and kept pretending.

The intercom announced their arrival. Yu Jing didn’t open her eyes until the plane stopped, people started unbuckling seatbelts, and someone tapped her shoulder. She lifted her lids.

Seeing it was Ming Zhu, she rubbed her eyes theatrically, hummed softly, and asked, “Are we here?”

Ming Zhu looked at her misty eyes, went along, and said, “We’re here.”

“Oh,” Yu Jing said, unbuckled her seatbelt, and sneaked a glance at the person beside her.

Since she woke, Ming Zhu’s eyes held a faint smile, making Yu Jing uneasy, wondering if she’d accidentally snored during her brief sleep and someone heard.

“Why are you smiling?” she couldn’t help asking.

“Click—” Ming Zhu unbuckled, lifted her gaze, met Yu Jing’s confused eyes, and nearly laughed out loud.

So adorably against the rules.

Ming Zhu watched her for seconds, suddenly reached out, pinched her masked cheek, stood, leaned down, looked at her shocked eyes, and said with a smile, “Let’s go.”

“???”

Yu Jing, head full of question marks, followed the group off the plane.

The VIP exit was nearly empty. Their group walked out grandly, but at the exit, a deafening scream nearly blew the roof off.

Confused, they looked toward the sound, saw a swarm of frantic fans rushing over.

Even Chen Chen, who loved excitement, was startled, saying, “Whoa, so many people!”

Yu Jing often faced airport pickups, but never for her. Scanning the crowd, most held signs for Chen Chen and Xiao Yihuan, as expected.

Used to this, Yu Jing touched her mask, slowed her steps, tried to fade into the background.

A thunderous voice burst from the crowd, “Ming Zhu and Yu Jing are at the back!”

Like a signal, the Ming-Jing CP fans perked up. Without signs, they had endless vocal energy, pushed through other fans, and surged forward.

The scene turned chaotic.

Security struggled to hold them back, raising batons to threaten retreat.

Hearing her name, Yu Jing froze, couldn’t believe fans came for her. She was stunned.

A tall, fierce female Alpha slipped past security, aimed straight for the dazed Yu Jing, reached to yank her mask.

Caught off guard, Yu Jing saw the hand, stepped back instinctively, but someone bumped her hard. She swayed, braced to fall.

At the critical moment, a hand gripped her soft waist, pulled her into a spin, arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly.

Still shaken, Yu Jing looked up, saw Ming Zhu’s face, no surprise at all.

As always, Ming Zhu rushed to her rescue in moments of danger.

Ming Zhu’s phoenix eyes narrowed, scanned the crowd, found the reckless Alpha fan, frowned, and said unhappily, “Artists are people too. Don’t touch.”

The female fan, scolded, blushed, mumbled a “sorry” drowned by screams.

“Ahhh, they’re hugging again!”

“I witnessed a Ming-Jing iconic moment!”

“So sweet, Ming Zhu, you’re so Alpha!”

“Kiss, kiss!”

“Ming Zhu, why hold so tight? Let us see your wife!”

“Wife?” A soft murmur came from above, its rising tone laced with tenderness and ambiguity, audible only to the two embracing.

Ming Zhu looked down at the girl in her arms, her calm heart rippling at the unfamiliar term.

Unsure if Ming Zhu was repeating the fan or teasing her, Yu Jing, dazed by the word, tightened her grip on Ming Zhu’s clothes, her starry eyes meeting hers in the noisy crowd.

Camera shutters clicked, flashing Yu Jing’s eyes. Startled, she struggled free from Ming Zhu’s embrace.

Too late.

The CP fans, quick-handed, snapped their hug, thrilled as if they’d won a million. Someone shouted, “Post it to the super topic!”

Yu Jing’s mind buzzed, she didn’t dare stay close to Ming Zhu, forced her way through, and slipped between Xiao Yihuan and Chen Chen.

The fans delayed them. With airport security’s escort, the six artists struggled out of the terminal.

TV station staff and vans waited outside, eagerly helped with luggage upon seeing them.

Artists, assistants, and crew totaled twenty, split across vehicles.

Yu Jing pulled Xiao Ye, tried to slip quietly into any van.

A sharp-eyed staff member stopped her, saying, “Teacher Yu Jing, you’re in this one.”

Yu Jing gave a stiff smile, reluctantly headed to the assigned van.

She slid into the back seat, removed her stuffy mask.

As her butt hit the seat, a figure slipped in, bringing familiar cold fragrance, familiar face.

Yu Jing: “…”

The TV station put her with Ming Zhu again.

Yu Jing shifted her neck awkwardly.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

Ming Zhu’s gaze left Yu Jing, lowered the window, saw a smiling face.

“Teachers, sorry to interrupt…” The TV station staff briefly explained the schedule, then left.

The window closed.

The driver stepped out to smoke, leaving just the two in the van, cool air thick with unspoken awkwardness.

“Want another throat lozenge?” Ming Zhu broke the silence.

Yu Jing’s throat no longer hurt, but having candy might feel better than silence. Seeing Ming Zhu rummage through her bag, she asked, “How many did you buy?”

Ming Zhu pulled out a handful of lozenges, asked sincerely, “Enough?”

Yu Jing’s mouth twitched.

Enough? She’d need a dentist after eating these.

Fearing another feeding like before, Yu Jing grabbed one, tried to open it herself, but couldn’t tear the wrapper. About to bite it, a slender hand took it away.

The lozenge ended up in Ming Zhu’s hand. Ming Zhu pinched both sides with four fingers, easily tore it open.

Yu Jing: “…”

The gap between Alpha and Omega was stark, even a wrapper mocked her weakness.

Suddenly down, Yu Jing didn’t want to eat.

Ming Zhu held the opened lozenge to her mouth, said softly, “Open.”

Yu Jing felt like a child being coaxed, thought about refusing, but her mouth obeyed, opened, and took the candy.

Ming Zhu stared at her rosy lips for a long time.

Yu Jing’s face heated, she quickly put her mask back on, turned to the scenery, ignored her.

After a while, Ming Zhu said softly, “Time feels so fast suddenly.”

Yu Jing looked over, puzzled, and didn’t understand her sudden sentiment.

Ming Zhu propped her head with one hand, eyes deep as if recalling something, paused, and said, “I remember the first ‘Treasure Hunt’ shoot was in A City. We sat together like this.”

Yu Jing blinked, realized it was true.

The first ‘Treasure Hunt’ shoot was in A City. She and Ming Zhu arrived simultaneously by chance, and the crew picked them up. They weren’t in the same van at first—Yu Jing’s had no AC, and she got carsick, so she swapped with Zhou Qi to sit with Ming Zhu.

Yu Jing huffed, said, “You didn’t even glance at me back then, so aloof.”

Ming Zhu adjusted her posture, looked sheepish, and said softly, “Sorry.”

But Yu Jing hadn’t liked her either back then.

A month ago, they were rivals who couldn’t stand each other. Who’d have thought they’d end up in this ambiguous, unclear relationship a month later?

Fate was a funny thing. Yu Jing felt a bit sentimental too.

Since they mentioned a month ago, Yu Jing recalled a question she hadn’t understood, asked casually, “Did I really sleep on you the whole way that time?”

Ming Zhu nodded, brushed hair off her shoulder, smiled, and said, “You numbed my shoulder.”

Yu Jing froze.

Xiao Ye told her after getting off, but she didn’t believe it. It was true!

She glanced at Ming Zhu’s slim shoulder, blinked quickly, and asked, puzzled, “You disliked me so much then. Why didn’t you push me off?”

Ming Zhu opened her mouth, but before she could explain, the door swung open—the driver was back from smoking.

With an outsider present, some topics weren’t convenient. Yu Jing suppressed her curiosity.

Those past grudges weren’t worth mentioning. Seeing Yu Jing cover a yawn, Ming Zhu lowered her voice, asked, “Still want to sleep?”

She hadn’t slept well on the plane. Yu Jing mumbled an “mm,” her eyelids drooping.

Ming Zhu slid closer, whispered in her ear, “Want to lean on me?”

Yu Jing’s eyes widened, glanced at the driver, saw him engrossed in his phone, looked back, and shook her head frantically.

Ming Zhu’s eyes flashed with regret but didn’t push.

The engine roared, the van finally moved.

Perhaps finding the van too quiet, the driver played music, hummed along, swaying.

They didn’t talk anymore.

Yu Jing lost the urge to sleep, turned to the scenery.

Just grass and trees, nothing interesting. Yu Jing got bored after minutes, took out her phone to pass time, glanced over, and was surprised to see Ming Zhu focused on her phone.

Having ridden with Ming Zhu before, Yu Jing knew she never used her phone in cars—this was a first. Yu Jing stole a few extra glances.

Ming Zhu sensed it, looked up, caught her curious stare, raised a brow, and asked deliberately, “What’re you looking at?”

“…” Yu Jing wouldn’t admit she was staring, rolled the lozenge in her mouth, mumbled, said nothing, and pretended to look ahead casually.

Ming Zhu’s fingertip touched the dimming screen, glanced at the driver lost in his world, and said softly, “I’m checking the Ming-Jing CP super topic.”

Yu Jing whipped her head back, her shocked gaze darting between Ming Zhu’s phone and face, exclaimed, “We have a super topic???”

Ming Zhu’s gaze softened, she smiled, and said, “I just found out.”

At the airport, surrounded by CP fans, Ming Zhu vaguely heard one mention a super topic, searched their names on Weibo, and found it.

Yu Jing found her smile intriguing, couldn’t resist curiosity, grabbed her phone, logged into Weibo, and searched “Ming-Jing.”

The results showed a bold orange diamond icon followed by “Ming-Jing Super Topic 100K Boiled Fish” in black.

Yu Jing didn’t get what “Boiled Fish” meant, but “Ming-Jing” was clear. She clicked the super topic, and the first post, from half an hour ago, caught her eye:

LightingCandlesForWhales: “#Ming-JingSuperTopic #So many fans at the airport pickup today. Someone tried to pull Jingjing’s mask, and Xiao Ming instantly hugged her, angrily scolding the fan. Pic’s blurry, but so sweet! [Image]”

[I was there, I swear! Xiao Ming’s so flirty and protective, I screamed my throat raw when she held Jingjing, scolding that fan was so Alpha!]

[Such a tight hug, one looking up, one looking down, perfect kissing angle.]

[Pull off their masks, Xiao Ming, kiss her hard!]

…What a mess!

Yu Jing’s hands shook, she closed the super topic, heart still racing. Her phone pinged, she switched to WeChat without thinking.

The white cat avatar had a red “1.”

The person was right beside her—why send a message? Yu Jing glanced suspiciously.

Ming Zhu wasn’t looking at her.

Yu Jing opened the message.

MZ: “I think this person makes a good point [Image]”

The image was a screenshot of a CP fan’s comment: “Ming-Jing is so perfect together, please get together!”