Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

If I can’t see her, she can’t see me.

—Clinging to this self-deceiving mindset, Yu Jing gripped the shirt’s hem tightly, her vision blocked, heightening her other senses.

She heard Xiao Ye’s breathing quicken at her odd behavior.

She heard Shen Jiayu’s calm greeting, “Leaving so early?”

“Mm,” Ming Zhu replied coolly.

Then, the tap of shoes on the floor, a steady tap-tap-tap, unhurried.

The sound faded, likely out of sight. Yu Jing yanked the shirt off, tilting her head to gasp.

Xiao Ye looked at her, puzzled. “Jingjing, what’re you doing?”

Yu Jing’s eyes flickered, glancing at the retreating figure, lips pursed, offering no explanation.

She took the room key from Xiao Ye, swiped it with a beep, and pushed the door open.

About to hang the shirt by the door, she lifted it, and the light fabric brushed past. Yu Jing belatedly caught a unique, enticing scent, sniffed it closely, eyes lighting up, blurting, “Why’s there an Alpha pheromone smell on this?”

The crisp scent, laced with a distinct bitter fragrance, wove into her nose, making her feel alive. She couldn’t help inhaling deeply.

“Because it’s Ming Zhu’s shirt,” Shen Jiayu said, entering behind.

Yu Jing, mid-sniff, froze, her body jolting, hands trembling.

Xiao Ye swiftly caught the shirt before it hit the floor.

Yu Jing, stunned, asked, “How’s her shirt in your hands?”

Xiao Ye shook it out. “You tore it off her, don’t you remember?”

“…I tore her clothes???” Yu Jing’s voice shot up, incredulous.

Thinking she genuinely forgot, Xiao Ye recounted, “When I found you, you’d fainted in Ming Zhu’s arms. I couldn’t lift you, so I asked her for help. She carried you to the car. You seemed half-awake, eyes closed, kept leaning into her, clutching her shirt so tight we couldn’t pry it off. You ended up ripping it off her! Good thing she had a tank top underneath… You didn’t see her face—she looked awful. If you weren’t like that, I’d bet she wanted to strangle you!”

Yu Jing’s eyes widened like bells.

She remembered.

Not Xiao Ye’s story, but the part before she blacked out.

Nineteen years without differentiating, Yu Jing hadn’t realized the tormenting pain was a sign of differentiation.

Her mind was chaos, pain blinding, tears forced out, unable to see. Had she known it was Ming Zhu, she’d have died before asking for help.

Asking was bad enough.

In that moment, it was like Ming Zhu’s pheromones bewitched her, making her pounce, shamelessly clinging, saying, You smell so good, let me smell more…

God—

Yu Jing covered her face, ashamed of her outrageous actions for a few seconds, then recalled something critical, uncovering her face. “Does she know I differentiated into an Omega?”

“Probably not,” Xiao Ye said, scratching her head, recalling. “When you fainted, only Ming Zhu and I saw. Right after she got you to the car, Jiayu-jie arrived. Jiayu-jie sensed something was off, and we rushed you to the hospital.”

Yu Jing looked to Shen Jiayu.

Shen Jiayu paused, then said, “I smelled Ming Zhu’s pheromones too and saw you clinging to her, which felt wrong. At the hospital, the doctor said you were about to differentiate. It should’ve been good news, but no one expected you’d become an Omega…”

She stopped, gauging Yu Jing’s reaction. Seeing only lowered lashes, she continued, “Last night, the crew wanted to visit, but I stopped them, saying you were drunk with an upset stomach, not the real reason.”

“Don’t tell anyone,” Yu Jing said, lifting her tired eyes, voice firm. “I don’t want people knowing I differentiated.”

Especially Ming Zhu.

If Ming Zhu and those haters knew she was an Omega, they’d mock her forever.

Recalling Weibo comments claiming she’d be an Omega, Yu Jing’s mood turned indescribable.

She’d been so sure of her soon-to-be Alpha status, only for this shocking twist.

She’d even sworn, if Ming Zhu was the surprise guest, she’d curse herself to become an Omega.

It came true…

These past days, she kept getting slapped in the face.

Yu Jing died inside repeatedly.

She rubbed her cheeks hard, sniffed her arm, puzzled. “Why can’t I smell my own pheromones?”

“The doctor gave you a suppressant,” Shen Jiayu said. “Right after differentiating, your pheromones were all over. To avoid trouble, I had them give you a shot. While it’s active, others can’t smell, but you can release them.”

Release?

Yu Jing had no experience, but it was in her genes. Relaxing, a switch flipped, and a sweet, milky strawberry scent filled her nose.

Her Omega pheromone smell.

Sickeningly sweet.

“…”

Yu Jing couldn’t describe the feeling.

Still unable to accept her new Omega identity, she found the scent off-putting, releasing just a bit before stopping.

“Jingjing, you’re so sweet,” Xiao Ye giggled.

“…” The compliment didn’t cheer her. Moving her neck, she saw Ming Zhu’s shirt, paused, and muttered, “Wash it and return it later.”

“Got it.” Xiao Ye left with the shirt.

Shen Jiayu checked her watch. “Half an hour left. You can shower first.”

Yu Jing’s differentiation happened mostly unconscious, but the heat from it made her sweaty. She needed a shower.

She went to the bathroom.

After, Shen Jiayu carefully applied an invisible gland patch, still worried, cautioning, “Even with the suppressant, keep your pheromones in check, or your Omega status might slip.”

“I know,” Yu Jing nodded seriously.

Even so, when Xiao Ya came to get her, she was nervous, worried someone might smell her pheromones, her expression stiff. “Morning, Xiao Ya-jie.”

“Morning,” Xiao Ya replied, not noticing anything, studying her face. “Teacher Yu Jing, is your stomach okay?”

Recalling Shen Jiayu’s cover story, Yu Jing forced a smile. “All good. Thanks for asking.”

“Good. Shall we head out?”

“Sure.”

The first episode’s filming was at City A’s largest waterpark, a half-hour drive from the hotel.

Artists had private cars. Yu Jing parted from Xiao Ye and Shen Jiayu, following Xiao Ya to the underground parking.

Nearing the SUV with the show’s logo, Yu Jing tensed. “Who else is in the car?”

Not Ming Zhu, please. She prayed silently.

Xiao Ya, sensing her worry, said, “Don’t worry, it’s Teacher Xiao Yihuan.”

Yu Jing exhaled, opened the door, and saw Xiao Yihuan inside.

“Hi~” Xiao Yihuan greeted with a sweet smile.

Yu Jing smiled back, ducking in.

After sitting, Xiao Yihuan asked about her health. Yu Jing lied smoothly.

Only a year older, Xiao Yihuan, a lively Omega, had worked with Yu Jing before, so she was relaxed, eagerly discussing possible game segments.

For effect, Yang Ming hadn’t revealed the activities last night. Curious, Yu Jing speculated with her.

They laughed and chatted, the mood light.

Parched, Xiao Yihuan opened a sponsor’s drink, took a sip, glanced at Yu Jing, hesitating.

Noticing, Yu Jing, aware Xiao Yihuan was an Omega, worried she’d sensed something, tensing. “Why’re you looking at me?”

Xiao Yihuan capped the bottle, glanced at the quiet driver and Xiao Ya, whispering, “I want to ask something, but I’m afraid you’ll be upset.”

As long as it wasn’t about being an Omega, Yu Jing was fine. Smiling casually, she said, “What’s the question?”

Xiao Yihuan leaned closer, hand shielding her mouth, voice low. “Last night, someone saw you and Ming Zhu go into the restroom and heard banging. They said you two were fighting behind closed doors. True?”

That kind of rumor existed???

Yu Jing marveled inwardly for a second, dry-laughed, “No way, fake.”

“Then what were you doing in there?” Xiao Yihuan clutched her drink, curious.

Yu Jing froze.

We were cuddling, believe it?

Knowing she wouldn’t, and unable to tell the truth, Yu Jing shifted guiltily, fibbing, “I was… pooping and didn’t know someone came in.”

“Oh.” Trusting, Xiao Yihuan dropped it, curiosity sated.

They reached the destination smoothly.

Xiao Ya told them to stay in the air-conditioned car while she checked the site.

No sun, but it was hot. Yu Jing wanted to stay cool but feared Xiao Yihuan, an experienced Omega, might notice something, so she excused herself to the restroom.

The parking area was cramped. Opening the car door, she heard a whoosh opposite, instinctively looking up.

Her gaze collided with Ming Zhu’s, startling her.

Seeing her, Ming Zhu seemed startled too, but quickly reverted to cool indifference, lowering her eyes, stepping out gracefully.

Yu Jing’s hands gripped the doorframe, wavering between retreating or getting out, finally choosing the latter, steadying her emotions, and stepping down.

Ming Zhu didn’t know she’d differentiated, so no need to fear. She reassured herself.

Clouds rolled, wind picking up.

A unique cold fragrance drifted over with the warm breeze, familiar yet strange.

Yu Jing, deliberately lagging, caught the scent, her mind flashing to the restroom scene—clinging to Ming Zhu, greedily soaking in her soothing aura…

Not pheromones.

But as a newly differentiated Omega, Yu Jing didn’t realize it right away. Drawn in, she quickened her pace to catch up.

Hearing the hastening steps, Ming Zhu paused slightly.

Yu Jing, unprepared for her stop, couldn’t brake, crashing straight into Ming Zhu’s back.

The crisp, enticing scent was so close, pulling Yu Jing to lean in further.

Sensing it, Ming Zhu turned, seeing Yu Jing sniffing her like a puppy. Her face shifted, dodging aside.

Her amber eyes flashed rare panic, brows knitting, voice low, “What are you trying to do now?”

“…”

Usually, Ming Zhu ignored or glared at her, but now, she looked at Yu Jing like she was a creep.

Yu Jing refused to admit she was a creep.

Swallowing the urge to die of embarrassment, she gritted her teeth, stood straight, and faced that no-longer-calm, striking face, saying with shaky bravado, “Your perfume’s so strong, it’s choking me. Achoo—”