Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

The car became quiet, so silent that a pin dropping could be heard.

Yu Jing felt neither shy nor excited. After sending that message, her unsettled heart seemed to find a harbor to rest in, and she gently let it settle.

The screen’s light reflected her face. Her complexion quietly returned, and a hopeful glint shimmered in her slightly red eyes.

Being firmly chosen by someone turned out to be such a joyful thing.

She pressed the phone to her chest and closed her eyes to feel it. It was as if someone had stuffed a little bird into her thin chest, and it danced happily inside.

The driver’s abrupt voice interrupted her thoughts: “We’re here.”

Yu Jing lifted her eyelids and looked out the window.

Bright lights sparkled, and the flashy, eye-catching sign of a budget hotel stood out.

M City, this small town, grew extremely quiet at night with hardly any traffic on the roads. Although Yu Jing chose the farthest and most remote hotel from her home, she still arrived quickly.

She adjusted her mask by hooking her fingers around its edge, sat up straight, hid the excitement in her heart, removed her tangled earphones, and asked, “How much is it?”

The driver glanced at the meter: “Fifty-two. WeChat, Alipay, or cash?”

“WeChat,” Yu Jing replied. She scanned the QR code he handed her, paid, and got out to retrieve her luggage.

As she opened the trunk, her phone rang.

The word “Sister” flashed on the caller ID, clear under the moonlight. Yu Jing’s pupils trembled, and her heartbeat skipped.

She instinctively wanted to answer the phone first.

The driver urged from the front: “You can’t park here long. Hurry up.”

Yu Jing glanced at the ringing phone and then at the driver craning his neck to rush her. She decided to get her luggage first.

The suitcase held mostly clothes for changing, not heavy, but something jammed the wheels. Yu Jing struggled, pulled hard, and with a “thud,” the suitcase’s bottom slammed onto the concrete.

She quickly tried to support it with her hand, but accidentally hit her phone, which slipped and flew out.

…Disaster!

Ignoring whether the suitcase was damaged, Yu Jing slammed the trunk shut, lowered her head to search, and saw her phone lying in front of the taxi’s rear wheel.

She screamed, “Driver, don’t move!”

But it was too late.

The driver had locked the doors and windows, unable to hear her shout. Eager to pick up the next passenger, he stepped on the gas, and the wheel rolled over the phone.

Exhaust fumes hit her face, but Yu Jing didn’t notice. She ran to pick up the phone, saw the screen cracked into a spiderweb, and her heart shattered.

She pressed the power button for a long time, but the screen stayed dead.

The phone wouldn’t turn on, and calls couldn’t come through.

Yu Jing clutched the ruined phone, wanting to cry but unable to. She was angry at the impatient driver and even angrier at her own carelessness. Why didn’t she put the phone in her bag first? Why did she pull so hard?

Forced to run out at night, with her phone now broken, troubles kept piling up. Yu Jing stood there, looking around blankly, her gaze sweeping over the hotel’s prominent sign, regaining a bit of calm.

She adjusted her mindset and walked toward the hotel’s entrance.

Two men, one thin and one fat, walked out side by side. The revolving door was narrow, so Yu Jing quickly stepped aside to let them pass.

But the two men didn’t seem to notice her, talking as they walked. The thin one said, “That girl named Liang is very cautious. She refused to come to the hotel.”

The fat one, who seemed like the thin one’s boss, irritably tugged at his tie, speaking disdainfully: “An eighteenth-tier nobody dares to negotiate with me. If I were an Alpha, I’d have her sorted in minutes! At dinner later, make her drink a few more glasses. I don’t believe I can’t handle a female Omega.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything,” the thin one said, pulling a syringe-like object from his pocket and lowering his voice: “One shot of this good stuff, and I guarantee she’ll be in heat.”

The fat one glanced at the object in his hand and gave a knowing smile.

Yu Jing didn’t hear exactly what they said, but her instincts told her it wasn’t good. She stepped out from the shadows, watching the two men with sleazy smiles drive away, her brows furrowing deeply.

In her own dire situation, Yu Jing had no energy to meddle in others’ affairs. Her priority was finding a place to stay.

She pushed her suitcase into the lobby, completed the check-in, took the room card from the receptionist, and asked, “Is there a phone store nearby?”

The receptionist thought for a moment and said apologetically, “There doesn’t seem to be one. The nearest mall is about ten minutes’ drive from here.”

Ten minutes wasn’t long, but Yu Jing worried the mall might be closed by the time she got there.

Disappointment welled up in her heart. She glanced reluctantly at the destroyed phone, let out a heavy sigh, looked up, and forced a smile at the receptionist: “Thanks.”

The receptionist replied, “You’re welcome.”

To save money, Yu Jing booked a small room. The cramped space had only a small bed. She looked around, her peripheral vision catching the landline phone on the bedside table, and an idea sparked.

Picking up the receiver, Yu Jing dialed a number from memory.

But the call wouldn’t go through.

A note next to the landline explained that it could only make internal calls. External calls required activating the service through the front desk.

She called the front desk to inquire.

After some effort, the front desk informed her the landline was now functional.

Yu Jing gripped the receiver, suddenly hesitant.

She wasn’t as decisive as before. Biting her finger, she hesitated for a long time but couldn’t resist and dialed the numbers one by one.

After entering all eleven digits, the line was busy.

Yu Jing ground her teeth against her lip, unwilling to give up, and dialed again. This time, it connected.

The busy tone was maddening, and she silently counted the seconds.

After fewer than three counts, a voice answered.

“Hello?”

The familiar, cool voice hit her eardrums. Yu Jing’s heart jolted, her grip on the receiver tightening. As if afraid someone might hear, she said softly, “It’s me.”

The person on the other end paused, recognized her voice, and switched to a lighter, soothing tone: “Jingjing?”

“Yeah,” Yu Jing replied, releasing her bitten finger and explaining awkwardly, “My phone broke just now. I didn’t mean to miss your call.”

Ming Zhu let out a long breath and said, “So that’s what happened. I called for a long time and couldn’t get through. I thought something was wrong.”

“I’m fine. I just… wanted to let you know… that’s all,” Yu Jing said, stumbling over her simple words.

Not long ago, she sent a message that could be misunderstood, and now she was eagerly calling. Yu Jing felt embarrassed.

What did Ming Zhu want to say when she called earlier? Would she take the chance to say something that would make Yu Jing blush?

Yu Jing waited nervously.

But Ming Zhu asked seriously, “Xiao Ye said you went home. Why are you at a hotel?”

Yu Jing was stunned: “How did you know I’m at a hotel?”

“The caller ID showed the hotel’s name,” Ming Zhu said, pausing. Without teasing or flirting, her tone held only uncertainty and concern: “Jingjing, are you really okay?”

The fluttering emotions in Yu Jing’s heart settled. She pursed her lips and said lightly, “I’m fine.”

“You’re acting a bit strange tonight,” Ming Zhu said pointedly.

“Am I?” Yu Jing hadn’t noticed.

“You’re not home, staying at a hotel, and suddenly messaging that you miss me,” Ming Zhu said slowly, keeping her tone measured. “Did something happen at home?”

Yu Jing fell silent.

Though they couldn’t see each other, connected only by a faint signal, Yu Jing didn’t expect Ming Zhu to be so perceptive, picking up on her hidden low mood from small details.

Yu Jing’s heart felt indescribable.

The silence stretched too long. Ming Zhu’s steady breathing grew slightly hurried, her voice quickening: “Jingjing, can you hear me?”

“I can hear you,” Yu Jing replied. She didn’t want to mention the mess at home, so she dodged the question lightly: “There’s a noisy kid at home, too loud, so I came to the hotel.”

Ming Zhu seemed to weigh the truth of her words, stayed silent for a moment, and didn’t press further. Changing the topic, she asked, “Is this hotel safe?”

Yu Jing glanced around symbolically and said, “It’s a national chain, three-star hotel. Safety shouldn’t be an issue.”

Ming Zhu hadn’t stayed at that hotel. Hearing Yu Jing’s light tone, she still cautioned worriedly, “You’re a girl staying alone at a hotel. Be very careful, lock the door, don’t open it for anyone, and try not to go out at night.”

Yu Jing felt like Ming Zhu was treating her like a child, but she didn’t mind the nagging and said obediently, “I know.”

“Are you scared sleeping alone at night?” Ming Zhu asked.

Yu Jing had been out on her own for a long time, had faced plenty of hardships, and was used to staying in hotels alone. But with Ming Zhu’s question, she suddenly didn’t want to seem so tough. Pouting, she said weakly, “A little.”

Ming Zhu forgot how Yu Jing once calmly slept in a haunted house. Hearing the girl’s soft voice, she wished she could crawl through the phone to keep her company… but that wasn’t realistic.

“If you’re scared, let’s chat for a bit,” Ming Zhu said, offering the only solution she could think of.

Yu Jing touched her ears, which were hot from lying, licked her lips, and said, “What should we talk about?”

Ming Zhu wasn’t talkative, and her conversation starter was stiff: “I haven’t been to M City. Is it nice?”

Yu Jing held back a laugh, seeing her effort to find a topic. Clearing her throat, she played along: “M City is small, nothing compared to B City, but the pace is slow. It’s pretty nice for living.”

They started chatting aimlessly, from geography to weather, then from weather to food. Mostly, Ming Zhu asked a question, and Yu Jing could ramble for minutes.

The hotel bed was soft. As Yu Jing talked, she lay down, and as she lay, she couldn’t help yawning.

Ming Zhu caught it: “Tired?”

“Yeah…” Yu Jing hadn’t rested well last night or at home. Ming Zhu’s gentle voice was so soothing that Yu Jing felt sleepy again. But she didn’t want to stop talking. Seeing it was late and not wanting to keep Ming Zhu up, she said reluctantly, “Let’s hang up. I need to shower and sleep.”

Ming Zhu paused briefly and asked, “Are you still scared?”

Yu Jing felt a bit guilty: “Not anymore.”

Ming Zhu seemed reluctant to end the call too. After a few seconds, she asked, “Did you buy your plane ticket?”

Yu Jing suddenly remembered: “Not yet.”

“Tell me when you’ve bought it.”

Was she going to pick her up in person? Yu Jing’s heart raced, glad they couldn’t see each other. She said reservedly, “Okay.”

“Then…” Ming Zhu dragged out the word, as if stretching the moment, and said slowly, “See you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

After hanging up, Yu Jing realized they’d talked for over an hour. The room felt cold and empty. She fiddled with the landline, feeling a hollow spot in her heart.

With her phone broken, she couldn’t book a plane or train ticket early. Yu Jing got an idea and called the front desk. They said they could help book it but would charge a small fee.

Yu Jing tossed aside her “save where possible” principle and asked the front desk to book a ticket for tomorrow. They asked for her ID number and which time slot she wanted. It was hard to explain over the phone, so Yu Jing hung up, grabbed her bag, and headed to the front desk.

She felt an urgent longing to return. Opening the door, she rushed to the elevator.

The elevator went up and down. Yu Jing waited by the one going up. After a few seconds, the door opened.

A strong smell of alcohol hit her. Yu Jing covered her nose and stepped aside, then saw three people—two men and a woman—step out, and she froze.

The fat and thin men were the same ones she saw at the hotel entrance.

They were supporting a drunken woman whose messy hair covered her face.

Recalling their sneaky behavior earlier, Yu Jing instinctively looked at the woman they were holding.

The thin man noticed her gaze, quickly pressed the drunk woman’s head down, and glared fiercely: “What are you looking at?”

Yu Jing frowned at his rudeness but didn’t want trouble and swallowed her anger.

She looked away, planning to walk into the elevator as if it didn’t concern her.

“Let me go…” the woman’s weak voice drifted to her ears.

Yu Jing, about to step into the elevator, paused, turned around, and suspiciously watched the three figures moving away.

That voice sounded so familiar.

The two men exchanged a glance, tightened their grip on the woman, and quickened their pace to a room. The thin one swiped the keycard to open the door, and the fat one, holding the drunk woman, tried to get her inside.

The woman snapped awake, grabbing the doorframe to resist: “What are you doing? Let me go! I want to go back.”

The two men ignored her.

Yu Jing, watching from the hallway, was stunned, staring in shock at the woman’s face.

No wonder the voice was familiar—it was Liang Tian!

Liang Tian, half-drunk and half-awake, sensed danger instinctively and opened her mouth to scream: “Help—mmph—”

The thin man quickly covered her mouth.

The fat man, annoyed by her noise, kicked the door open: “Get her inside first.”

The two men dragged Liang Tian into the room and threw her onto the bed like a rag.

The fat man straddled Liang Tian, cursed “whore,” and leaned down.

“Get off me! Don’t touch me!” Liang Tian struggled.

The thin man, seeing his boss’s eager hunger, remembered the door was still open. He went to close it but was suddenly pushed from outside.

“Let her go!” Yu Jing shouted at the fat man, who was about to act.

The thin man hadn’t expected someone to barge in. Startled when Yu Jing rushed in, he relaxed upon seeing she was just a slender woman and threatened, “Who are you? I suggest you mind your own business.”

Liang Tian, hearing someone come to her rescue, struggled harder, kicking wildly and hitting the fat man’s crotch. He let out a pig-like scream, clutching himself and rolling off the bed.

The thin man rushed to help the fat man.

Liang Tian, disheveled, scrambled up. Yu Jing seized the moment to pull her.

“Don’t let them escape!” the fat man ordered, clutching his crotch in pain.

The thin man abandoned the fat man to block them.

Yu Jing, holding Liang Tian with one hand, saw the thin man lunge. Reflexively, she yanked off her bag and swung it, hitting his forehead.

The thin man grabbed her mask, wincing in pain as he clutched his head.

Yu Jing, ignoring her exposed face, tried to escape with Liang Tian. Her unzipped bag suddenly dropped a cylindrical object, which rolled across the floor to the fat man’s feet.

Thinking it could be a weapon, the fat man picked it up.

Yu Jing’s face went pale, and she let go of Liang Tian to grab it.

The thin man blocked her, stunned by her exposed face, finding her familiar but unable to recall her name: “Aren’t you the one paired with Ming Zhu for CP?”

Liang Tian saw Yu Jing’s face, surprised and delighted, but stayed silent.

The thin man studied Yu Jing’s face and said, “Since we’re all acquaintances, let’s talk nicely.”

Yu Jing had nothing to say to them, her eyes fixed on the object in his hand.

The fat man, still in pain and unable to stand, examined the object and said doubtfully, “Is this a suppressant?”

The thin man looked over.

Yu Jing’s face paled further.

The fat man had picked up her suppressant, which she carried for emergencies. To avoid suspicion, she’d torn off the packaging.

Though it no longer said “Omega-only,” Yu Jing still worried they’d see through it. She didn’t dare snatch it, as that would raise more suspicion.

The thin man seemed to know something about her, eyeing her closely: “So, you’ve already differentiated.”

Yu Jing’s mind went blank, forgetting she was there to save someone, unaware of the dangerous situation she was in.

Liang Tian quietly inched toward the door.

The fat man noticed, clutching his crotch as he tried to stand: “Don’t let that woman escape!”

The thin man’s attention shifted from Yu Jing, rushing to stop Liang Tian.

Yu Jing snapped back, lunging to hold the thin man back.

With Yu Jing’s help, Liang Tian opened the door. Terrified, she clutched her torn clothes, stumbling out, looking back as she shakily pulled out her phone to dial 110: “I need to report a crime.”

…

“Ding—”

A short phone notification sounded. Ming Zhu quickly put down her book and picked up her phone.

She thought Yu Jing was informing her about a booked ticket, but after unlocking it, she saw it wasn’t her.

Zhou Qi messaged: “Did you see the trending news? Yu Jing’s in big trouble!”

The lazy smile on Ming Zhu’s face vanished. She logged into Weibo, clicked the trending topics, and her vision darkened.

The top trending topic read: #Yu Jing Attempted to Forcibly Mark an Omega, Taken by Police#.