Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Bang—

The small door slammed shut.

Yu Jing flinched back, fingers brushing her nearly-hit nose, staring at the trembling door, stunned for a long moment before realizing what happened.

It was a changing room.

Ming Zhu, soaked by rain, was undressing, half-naked, skin pale as snow…

And Yu Jing saw it!!!

Holy crap! What kind of bizarre plot was this?!!

Patting her chest to calm down, she pieced it together: Ming Zhu likely mistook her for Zhou Qi, calling her in to help. Ignorant, Yu Jing, gleeful thinking Ming Zhu was yielding, blundered through the door.

“…”

Like a soldier storming an enemy camp, only to stumble upon the general bathing—awkward, and dangerously likely to get silenced.

So, run?

Gulp— Yu Jing swallowed.

But she hadn’t done what she came for.

Wavering, she heard rustling inside—fabric rubbing, soft and faint, teasing her ears.

Through the thin door, she could almost picture the person undressing.

Recalling the accidental glimpse, Yu Jing’s face burned.

Standing so close felt wrong. She inched back.

The door flew open.

Seeing Ming Zhu in fresh clothes, Yu Jing’s peach-blossom eyes widened. First thought: Without help, how’d she untangle her hair and bra?

Second thought: retreat.

Backing five steps to a safer distance, she stood, feigning calm, though her heart was a mess.

She and Ming Zhu must be cursed; in just two days, she’d died of embarrassment before her countless times.

Ming Zhu stood tall in the open doorway, wet hair neatly tamed, rain softening her sharp features, beauty envy-inducing.

But her face was grim.

If looks could kill, Yu Jing would be bleeding.

Whoever spoke first would lose, but as Ming Zhu’s invisible daggers flew, Yu Jing’s heart quaked, blurting, “I didn’t see anything!”

“…”

Ming Zhu’s glare turned deadlier, screaming intent to silence her.

Yu Jing, flustered, touched her burning ears, eyes scouring the floor for a crack to hide in.

No luck.

The gaze from above was cold yet scorching, slicing like knives.

Ming Zhu’s eyes hid dark depths, her perfect jawline taut from clenched teeth, face clouded, as if suppressing some emotion.

Feeling the gaze’s sting, Yu Jing’s toes curled in her shoes, pondering how to broach her purpose, when Ming Zhu’s restrained voice asked, “Where’s Zhou Qi?”

Yu Jing lifted her eyes, seeing Ming Zhu back to her unshakable cool, startled.

Not holding the earlier incident against her?

Suspicious, but then, even if Ming Zhu wanted to settle scores, she had no ground.

Ming Zhu had called her in…

Yu Jing wouldn’t foolishly bring it up, but pretending nothing happened wasn’t realistic—she’d seen it all, front and back… Impossible to stay unmoved.

Suppressing the odd flutter, Yu Jing looked back, feigning ease.

Her mind, still muddled, forgot their rivalry, pointing to the makeup room door, answering smoothly, “Your manager, I think she went out to take a call.”

Ming Zhu glanced at the closed door, then back at Yu Jing, lips a flat line.

“…” Why did it feel like she was stripping her bare with that look???

Spooked by her own imagination, Yu Jing floundered, heat climbing her ears, wanting to touch them but frozen under Ming Zhu’s predatory stare.

Fine, cut to the chase.

Yu Jing shut her eyes, steadied herself, looked up, and opened her mouth.

“What’re you doing here?” Ming Zhu’s icy voice cut in first.

It was a public makeup room; anyone could enter. Yu Jing found the question rude.

But given what just happened…

If Ming Zhu had seen her half-naked, she’d probably have screamed assault.

Empathizing, Yu Jing let the attitude slide, fingers pinching the hidden shirt, bringing it forward, offering it with lowered eyes, muttering, “Xiao Ye said you… carried me to the car last night. Thanks. The shirt’s clean, here.”

Yu Jing hated recalling last night, but she was fair about debts. Whatever Ming Zhu’s reasons, she owed her a personal thank-you.

Though sincere, she knew Ming Zhu wouldn’t care.

Rain had washed off Ming Zhu’s makeup, long lashes casting shadows, hiding her thoughts.

Seeing the shirt, her gaze flickered, but she didn’t take it, just looked at Yu Jing, saying flatly, “I don’t want what others have worn.”

Yu Jing shook her wrist, quick to say, “I definitely didn’t wear it!”

Ming Zhu’s eyes narrowed. “This morning, I saw you put it over your head.”

“…”

Though she showed no anger, her tone steady, Yu Jing sensed disdain between the lines.

Understandable.

Ming Zhu loathed her; why would she want her touched clothes?

If she hadn’t torn it off last night, this wouldn’t be an issue…

Regretting, Yu Jing realized returning it was ill-considered.

Knowing she was at fault, she didn’t explain or argue, sheepishly retracting the shirt, then said, “I’ll buy you a new one, or tell me the price, I’ll transfer it.”

“No need,” Ming Zhu said coldly, not generous, more like unwilling to engage.

Yu Jing’s throat caught, out of words.

She’d look up the shirt’s brand online, find a way to repay later.

Taking the hint, Yu Jing turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Thinking she misheard, Yu Jing stopped, turned, met Ming Zhu’s cryptic gaze, and blinked. “Something else?”

Ming Zhu stood still, spine straight, pale eyes flickering with unsteady light, staring for five seconds before saying slowly, “Last night, what did you mean?”

Why hug her, sniff her, tear her clothes… It baffled Ming Zhu.

She wasn’t curious about Yu Jing, but her actions had unsettled her all night, demanding clarity.

Yu Jing’s guard shot up, stuttering, “I-I-I was drunk, don’t remember anything.”

Last night, Ming Zhu suspected drunkenness, but now doubted it. “Miss Yu, if I recall, we drank sponsor cocktails, three percent alcohol.”

Only three percent? Yu Jing hadn’t noticed, rattled by the callout, retorting shakily, “Can’t I be a lightweight?”

Ming Zhu scoffed, lips twitching, eyes humorless. “If you’re a lightweight, your assistant would know. Why’d she let you go to the restroom alone?”

“…”

“And,” Ming Zhu stepped closer, as if reading her micro-expressions, dismantling her lie, “Zhou Qi said she saw you leave Yujin Hall, perfectly fine. How, in ten minutes, were you so drunk you couldn’t stand, didn’t recognize me, and spouted slurred nonsense?”

Yu Jing, panicking, had blurted drunkenness, not expecting Ming Zhu to recall such details!

The drunk excuse failed, so she steadied her breath, admitting, “Fine, I wasn’t drunk.”

Ming Zhu frowned.

Before she could snap, Yu Jing rushed, “I had acute gastritis, in so much pain I didn’t know it was you.”

“Really sick and unaware, or faking it to act that way?”

This was the most Ming Zhu had ever said to her, and Yu Jing, unaccustomed, blanked at the question, “Act what?”

Ming Zhu’s expression turned cryptic, her cold gaze probing Yu Jing’s face, voice deepening, “Rubbing against me, saying flirty things, teasing me to gross me out.”

“Huh?” Yu Jing let out a confused syllable.

When Ming Zhu questioned her, she feared her differentiation was exposed, not expecting Ming Zhu to think she was teasing her?

…What an imagination!

The tension in Yu Jing’s heart snapped, relieved she’d dodged a bullet, her lips twitching upward.

But to Ming Zhu, that tiny smirk looked like a prankster’s triumph.

It seemed to confirm her suspicions.

Ming Zhu’s face darkened, staring at the hidden smile, voice icy, “Don’t you think that’s too much?”

It’s not what you think!

Yu Jing found it funny yet urgent, wanting to explain, but stopped short.

Ming Zhu always looked down on her, gave her cold shoulders. Would someone so arrogant listen?

No.

She’d probably get more glares.

Feeling resentful, Yu Jing saw her chance.

Having lost to Ming Zhu before, seeing her flustered and exposed was rare. Yu Jing seized it.

Since Ming Zhu thought it was deliberate teasing…

Her mind raced, and she leaned forward.

The sudden closeness made Ming Zhu uneasy, brows furrowing, wanting to step back.

Anticipating, Yu Jing swiftly hooked her neck.

Ming Zhu, unprepared, her face shifting.

Seizing her shock, Yu Jing pulled her close, playfully teasing her chin, biting her lip, cooing shyly, “It wasn’t on purpose… I’ve had a crush on you.”

Ming Zhu’s pupils dilated.

“It wasn’t teasing.” Yu Jing pressed a finger to her parted lips, silencing her, continuing in a cloyingly sweet voice, “Big sis, I couldn’t help myself~”

If she found it gross, she’d gross her out completely!

Yu Jing was cackling inside.

But before seeing Ming Zhu’s disgusted reaction, the makeup room door burst open.

Boom.

Yu Jing whipped around.

Xiao Ya, hand on the handle, gaped at their intimate pose, voice hesitant, “S-Sorry, did I interrupt something?”