Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Because of the mask, Ming Zhu’s lips didn’t directly touch her, but Yu Jing felt the spot where she was pressed burn like fire. Her body dodged to the side, and her eyes widened suddenly.

Those amber eyes, exposed outside, were focused and deep, showing no trace of joking.

Yu Jing was genuinely afraid Ming Zhu might act recklessly. She didn’t dare tease anymore and quickly turned to the male passenger to explain: “Sorry, big brother, she really is my girlfriend.”

Ming Zhu straightened up, satisfied.

The way to deal with a little rascal was to be even more roguish. Ming Zhu ruffled Yu Jing’s head and sincerely asked the male passenger again: “Can we swap?”

The male passenger noticed the chemistry between them and believed they were a couple. Ming Zhu’s seat was by the window, better than his. He was happy to oblige, stood up with a grin, and said: “Alright.”

“Thank you,” Ming Zhu said gratefully.

After the male passenger left, Ming Zhu gestured for Yu Jing to move inside, as sitting near the aisle risked getting bumped. Yu Jing obediently slid over.

The scenery outside the window slowly receded. The train started moving.

Ming Zhu held one of Yu Jing’s hands. Yu Jing glared at her, half-annoyed, half-warning.

Ming Zhu smiled silently, interlocking their fingers tightly. She patted her own shoulder, signaling with her eyes that Yu Jing could lean on her if she wanted to sleep.

Yu Jing wasn’t very sleepy. Her eyes wandered around and glanced to the side, noticing a female Omega sitting nearby. The girl looked like a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old high school student, with a ponytail, a cartoon backpack hanging on her chest, and earphones in, watching a video on a tablet.

A five-hour train ride would feel boring without something to do.

Yu Jing instinctively reached into her bag for her phone, unzipped it halfway, then remembered her phone was broken and hadn’t been replaced.

Oh well.

As she started to zip the bag back up, a hand suddenly extended toward her, holding a phone. Yu Jing quickly looked up and met Ming Zhu’s gaze.

Ming Zhu unlocked the phone, saw through her thoughts, and said: “If you’re bored, you can play with my phone for a bit.”

At the hotel, Yu Jing had used Ming Zhu’s phone to check comments, not to play. Seeing her so generously hand over the phone, Yu Jing’s heart stirred. She stared at the phone and deliberately teased: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll snoop around?”

Ming Zhu stuffed the phone into her hand and said: “Snoop however you want.”

Though Ming Zhu allowed it, Yu Jing wouldn’t actually invade her privacy. In front of her, Yu Jing swiped the screen and found the phone’s contents were very simple, without even a single game to pass the time.

No games, so listening to music would do. Yu Jing opened the music player, saw a familiar song title on the paused button, and her heart skipped a beat.

She glanced at Ming Zhu.

Ming Zhu’s eyes flickered slightly. She didn’t seem embarrassed and didn’t say anything.

Yu Jing opened her playlist and found only one song in the list, “To the Sun,” the same one paused, which had been played on loop over a hundred times.

Having listened so many times, no wonder Ming Zhu could play the full melody flawlessly with her eyes closed when the director arranged for them to perform “To the Sun” together.

Yu Jing hadn’t listened to it as much as Ming Zhu had. She nudged Ming Zhu with her elbow and asked: “Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

Ming Zhu leaned over and whispered in her ear: “Because you sang it.”

The words carried no praise, but Yu Jing heard endless affection in them. Her ears softened and warmed, her heart felt comforted, and her mind feverishly thought: I must release more good songs in the future.

Yu Jing ultimately decided against listening to music because she suddenly felt it was nice that the playlist had only her song. She liked the feeling of being uniquely special and treated differently.

With that little thought, she closed the music player. Yu Jing pointed at a video app on the screen and said cheerfully to Ming Zhu: “Let’s watch a movie.”

“Anything’s fine,” Ming Zhu said, as always agreeing to whatever Yu Jing suggested.

Yu Jing pulled earphones from her bag, the wires all tangled. She had no patience, and the more she tugged, the messier it got.

Ming Zhu took them, untangled them in a few quick moves, and tucked one earbud into Yu Jing’s ear. Seeing Yu Jing’s flushed ears, the plump earlobe like a round pearl, Ming Zhu’s heart itched. She gently pinched it.

Yu Jing’s neck shrank back. Her fingers accidentally tapped a movie, and music played in her ears.

Her delicate ears visibly turned redder.

They seemed very sensitive.

The ripe ears looked ready to be picked. Ming Zhu’s fingers itched again, but she restrained herself, lowered her hand, and turned her gaze to the phone screen, putting the other earbud in her own ear.

The screen was small. Ming Zhu put her arm around Yu Jing’s shoulder, pulling her closer to see better. Half-held by her, Yu Jing’s heartbeat quickened. It only calmed after the movie’s opening credits ended.

They sat close, sharing the same earphones. No one on the train recognized them, no public opinion interfered, and they could do ordinary things like an ordinary couple. Their hearts gradually filled with warmth.

The movie was a suspenseful commercial film released during this year’s Spring Festival. The cast’s acting was solid, the plot gripping, but a bit brain-burning. At one point, Yu Jing didn’t understand something and wanted to ask Ming Zhu. She turned her head, only to find Ming Zhu asleep against the seatback.

Guilt surged in Yu Jing’s heart.

Ming Zhu had rushed to her side the moment something happened, stayed up all night, and probably hadn’t rested much, right?

Even asleep, she didn’t lean on Yu Jing, perhaps afraid of being too heavy and pressing on her.

Yu Jing wanted to offer her a shoulder to lean on but worried about waking her with big movements. She carefully scooted closer and gently removed Ming Zhu’s earbud.

Ming Zhu slept the whole way.

When the train arrived, it was almost dark. Since the four were in different carriages, they had agreed to meet at the exit. The group reunited, supposed to discuss where to eat dinner, but Shen Jiayu said: “I have a business engagement later. You guys eat on your own.”

Business engagements often involved drinking, so Xiao Ye had to go with Shen Jiayu to drive. Yu Jing and Ming Zhu, watching their figures, had no appetite and chose not to eat.

Yu Jing got into Ming Zhu’s car.

Night fell, and neon lights sparkled.

Leaving the slow-paced small city and returning to the bustling, noisy metropolis, Yu Jing felt for the first time that B City’s night scenery was so beautiful. Perhaps because she was away from the chaos, the crowded traffic and people, things she used to dislike, now felt familiar and dear.

She closed the car window, turned her gaze back, and saw Ming Zhu opening the navigation. Yu Jing proactively gave her address: “I live at…”

“Heart Lake Community,” Ming Zhu said first, entering it familiarly. She turned her head and said: “I remember it all.”

The overhead light cast a warm glow on her pale face. A light sentence sounded like sweet, moving words.

How many details did she remember?

Yu Jing felt her heart soak in warm water. When Ming Zhu leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, Yu Jing, ignoring restraint, planted a loud “muah” on her face.

Ming Zhu was a bit surprised. Her eyes lit up, her fingers released the seatbelt, and she pressed Yu Jing against the seatback, deepening the kiss.

This time, it felt even better than before.

Yu Jing couldn’t describe the feeling. When released, her face was red as bl00d. She hurriedly put on her mask, shyly pushed the smiling Ming Zhu away, and said: “Drive properly.”

The road was a bit congested.

Passing a mall, Ming Zhu parked the car, saying she needed to buy something. She didn’t want Yu Jing to come along, put on her mask, and went down. Minutes later, she returned with a bag from a phone brand.

Yu Jing realized Ming Zhu had bought her a phone.

Receiving such a gift on the first day of dating, Yu Jing felt embarrassed but didn’t refuse, silently noting it in her heart. She was deeply touched by Ming Zhu’s thoughtfulness, held the phone tightly with both hands, and said seriously: “I won’t let it get damaged.”

Ming Zhu was amused by her expression, pinched her cheek, and said: “Put the SIM card in.”

Yu Jing took the SIM card from her broken phone, inserted it into the new one, and as soon as it powered on, it chimed nonstop. Several unread messages flooded in. Yu Jing opened them, saw the sender’s name, and the smile on her lips froze.

Since she couldn’t be reached by phone, Zhou Qi had switched to messaging her. Except for the last message about visiting Yi Weidong’s grave, the rest were apologies and regrets.

Yu Jing read them expressionlessly, only replied to the last one, saying she was back in B City, and turned off the phone.

“Don’t like it?” Ming Zhu couldn’t see the messages, only noticed Yu Jing’s expression shift from joy to gloom, and asked with concern.

“No, I like it a lot,” Yu Jing forced a smile, touched her stomach, and said casually: “I’m just suddenly hungry.”

Ming Zhu didn’t suspect anything and said: “Want to eat something first?”

Yu Jing wasn’t really hungry. She pretended to look troubled, thought for a moment, and said: “I don’t really want to eat out. I’ll check what’s at home to eat.”

Ming Zhu didn’t press her and started the car again.

Heart Lake Community had nice greenery, with winding paths and a serene vibe. Some people cooled off in the courtyard, others strolled to digest. It was quiet yet lively, very pleasant.

They boldly held hands as they walked in.

A month ago, Ming Zhu had been here. It was pouring rain that day. As an ordinary friend, she sent Yu Jing home, standing outside the glass door with an umbrella. This time, as mutually loving partners, Ming Zhu rightfully entered Yu Jing’s space, quietly observing.

The two-bedroom apartment, a few dozen square meters, felt a bit cramped but was fairly tidy.

Yu Jing wore Xiao Ye’s slippers and handed her own to Ming Zhu.

Ming Zhu put on Yu Jing’s size 37 slippers, her heels sticking out slightly, too short.

“Just make do with these today. Next time, I’ll buy you a bigger pair,” Yu Jing said, staring at Ming Zhu’s slender, pretty feet.

“Next time?” Ming Zhu raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a smile in her eyes. “Does that mean I can come over often?”

Yu Jing’s heartbeat quickened. Without a mask to hide, she became shy and fidgety.

You get it, so why ask!

Yu Jing turned her head, deliberately changing the topic: “I’ll check what’s in the fridge.”

Ming Zhu chuckled softly behind her.

Opening the fridge door, cold air hit her face.

Something fell out. Yu Jing quickly caught it. Cold liquid spilled from the straw onto her body. She yelped, loosened her grip, and the item dropped to the floor with a thud.

Ming Zhu hurried over, pulled her back, and asked: “Are you okay?”

Yu Jing shook her head, picked up the half-drunk milk tea from the floor, and threw it in the trash.

The milk tea was probably Xiao Ye’s. The floor was dirty. Yu Jing wanted to get a mop, but Ming Zhu held her back.

Ming Zhu’s gaze swept over Yu Jing’s chest, her eyes heating up. She cleared her throat and said: “Go change your clothes.”

Yu Jing looked down, saw her chest was soaked, the fabric revealing the full outline underneath, a bit suggestive. Her face flushed instantly. She covered the area with both hands, stammered, and said: “Wait for me a sec.”

Ming Zhu was also a bit embarrassed, hummed, and looked away.

One ran to the bedroom, the other went to find a mop.

Yu Jing closed the bedroom door, opened the wardrobe, and realized many clothes were missing.

Her face burned, her mind dizzy. Her first thought was that a thief had broken in. She spun around the room, then remembered she’d brought a lot of clothes to record “Happy Star,” and her suitcase was still in Shen Jiayu’s car.

With fewer clothes, she took forever to choose, finding fault with everything, feeling nothing looked good. But if she dressed too nicely, she worried Ming Zhu would think she was trying too hard. After agonizing, she picked a loose, non-see-through loungewear set.

After changing, she saw clothes strewn across the bed. She hesitated for a few seconds about tidying up, thinking she should.

What if Ming Zhu asked to see her bedroom later and saw this mess, thinking she was sloppy?

Yu Jing hurriedly hung the clothes back in the wardrobe.

There weren’t many clothes, but she worked up a sweat, her body hot, her mouth dry.

Was it because the air conditioning wasn’t on?

Yu Jing fanned herself with her hand, getting hotter the more she fanned. She heard a “knock knock knock” at the door.

Ming Zhu, waiting too long without seeing her, asked from outside: “Jingjing, are you done changing?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m done,” Yu Jing stood up quickly. Maybe she stood too fast, her head spun, and she felt worse.

Could she have gotten heatstroke from not turning on the air conditioning?

Her body felt limp. Yu Jing struggled to the door.

When the door opened, Ming Zhu saw her flushed face and weak, sweaty state. Surprised, she asked: “What’s wrong?”

Yu Jing couldn’t pinpoint the reason, just felt unbearably hot. She took Ming Zhu’s hand, wanting her to check if she had a fever.

When Ming Zhu’s cool hand touched her burning skin, Yu Jing felt immense relief. A moan escaped her throat involuntarily.

Ming Zhu froze.

Yu Jing didn’t realize the shame of it. Like someone with skin hunger, she wasn’t satisfied with simple touch. She collapsed into Ming Zhu’s arms, softly whining: “Hold me.”

Ming Zhu didn’t understand why changing clothes made her so clingy. Unable to resist, she wanted to hold her. Her nose brushed Yu Jing’s soft hair, catching a sweet, enticing strawberry-milk scent. Her expression paused, and she belatedly pushed Yu Jing away.

Losing the comforting embrace, Yu Jing felt uncomfortable again, her body softening, wanting to cling back.

Ming Zhu pressed her against the wall, deliberately keeping distance, touching only her shoulders: “You can’t.”

“Why?” Yu Jing didn’t understand why Ming Zhu rejected her closeness. Her expression looked pitiful and innocent.

The strawberry-milk scent in the air grew stronger, the sweet Omega pheromones surging outward.

Ming Zhu suppressed the stir in her body. Her eyes darkened, her voice slightly off: “Your pheromones are leaking. Can’t you smell it?”

Yu Jing sniffed, nodded dazedly. She smelled it, but her expression remained confused.

Ming Zhu looked at her unnaturally red face, smelled her increasingly cloying pheromones, took a deep breath, and said hoarsely: “Your heat has started.”