Forced to Pretend to Be an A and Marry the Best Actress Omega - Chapter 37

At 2:30 a.m. in the hospital, Song Nian sat in her office, rubbing her temples as she looked at her friend before her.

Since becoming a chief physician, she had encountered many peculiar patients, but Jiang Lingyu’s current predicament still ranked among the most absurd in her medical career.

“So, you’re saying… she fainted during the process of comforting you and lost consciousness?”

Song Nian glanced at the records on her computer, her expression complicated. “During the marking process?”

The public had always harbored numerous speculations and rumors about Xu Mifei. With the recent surge in popularity from the show, Song Nian had watched a few clips herself.

One particularly viral moment showed Xu Mifei pulling Xu Wanzhi out of the water in one swift motion. The stark contrast in their strength and condition sparked heated discussions online, “The weak Alpha of the Xu family is finally standing up!”

A weak Alpha standing up? From Song Nian’s professional perspective, that kind of strength couldn’t have been achieved through a temporary injection.

As Xu Mifei had claimed, it was the kind of power a disciplined beta could attain over time.

Song Nian had never liked Xu Mifei. The moment she saw that video, she worried Xu Mifei might be scheming something against Jiang Lingyu again.

Whether her actions were good or bad, Xu Mifei’s ultimate goal was always to possess Jiang Lingyu—or to take something from her.

As Jiang Lingyu’s friend, Song Nian knew all too well how irresistible Jiang Lingyu’s pheromones were to alphas.

She would never forget the scene years ago when the equipment in that small clinic malfunctioned during Jiang Lingyu’s level assessment.

“…I’ve told you several times, it wasn’t marking—it was comforting.” Jiang Lingyu frowned, her gaze shifting to the large glass window next to them. The monitor showed the person inside was stable, with only an elevated heart rate indicating any abnormality.

At the time, she had been too stunned to react, even considering calling the props team for help.

The lingering stimulation from Xu Mifei was overwhelming. The person who had been comforting her moments ago suddenly became dead weight. Having just gone through the comforting process and her heat cycle, Jiang Lingyu was in no condition to carry Xu Mifei away.

Fortunately, she regained some semblance of composure at the last moment, remembering that involving the props team wouldn’t be safe.

If word got out that Xu Mifei had fainted on top of her, the media would have a field day.

In the end, she called Song Nian and, after informing Jin Chiyu, secretly brought Xu Mifei to the hospital.

Jiang Lingyu appeared calm throughout the entire ordeal, but the turmoil inside her was indescribable.

She initially thought it might have been due to the concentration of pheromones she released, as in that moment, she had lost control and let everything out.

By then, she could no longer smell her own pheromones; her mind was filled only with the image of that gently swaying glass of wine.

The emergency team immediately ran tests on Xu Mifei, only to find all her vitals perfectly normal—except for an unusually rapid heartbeat and adrenaline levels exceeding the threshold.

Jiang Lingyu insisted Xu Mifei had inexplicably fainted during a routine comforting session, but Song Nian’s skeptical expression made it clear she suspected Jiang Lingyu was lying to protect Xu Mifei’s reputation.

Just how intense had things gotten for a simple comforting session to excite her to the point of fainting?

If it weren’t for knowing from their last meeting that Xu Mifei wasn’t an alpha, Song Nian might have believed the rumors circulating outside that Xu Mifei was the only weak alpha in the Xu family.

But even if she wasn’t an alpha, Song Nian had never seen a beta comfort an omega to the point of fainting. What exactly was she using to provide comfort?

Song Nian glanced at Jiang Lingyu’s nape, where the scent gland patch hadn’t been removed since the moment she first saw Jiang Lingyu.

The area was visibly slightly swollen, as if suffering from some prolonged torment.

“How exactly are you two providing comfort?” Song Nian finally couldn’t hold back from asking. “What’s wrong with your scent gland?”

“It’s nothing, just ordinary comforting methods.” Jiang Lingyu had clearly noticed Song Nian’s gaze, but she turned her head slightly, letting her hair cover her burning nape.

“…You two—she didn’t drag you into playing some other game, did she?” Seeing Jiang Lingyu’s rare attempt at concealment, Song Nian grew even more suspicious. Her expression tensed. “Don’t move. If you’re injured, you need medication.”

She made as if to remove Jiang Lingyu’s scent gland patch, but Jiang Lingyu abruptly stood up from the sofa. “Really, it’s nothing!”

“I’m speaking to you as a doctor now. Otherwise, why would you have Xu Mifei examined so thoroughly?”

Even though her emergency department colleagues had already diagnosed Xu Mifei as fine, Jiang Lingyu still insisted on a detailed full-body checkup, using the most advanced and precise equipment, along with pheromone level tests.

This was a common test for inexperienced alphas and omegas after their first marking, meant to help them cope with subsequent physical changes. Doctors were obligated to inform them,

Experiencing heart palpitations, scalp tingling, excessive nervousness, sweaty palms, and uncontrollable pheromone leakage when seeing each other was normal. Next time they marked each other, they should take it easier—it would get better with practice.

But this was a common scenario for alpha-omega pairings. Xu Mifei was a beta—what pheromone changes was she testing for?

If Jiang Lingyu was doing this just in case others found out, to avoid criticism, wasn’t she being overly considerate of Xu Mifei?

The more Song Nian thought about it, the stranger it seemed. She still felt Jiang Lingyu was being coerced by Xu Mifei.

“Ever since Xu Mifei jumped off that time, you’ve been unusually soft on her.” Song Nian paused before continuing, “Did she offer you some tempting deal again? You know what she’s like—full of sweet talk. Don’t forget what happened on set last time.”

Jiang Lingyu lowered her head and slowly sat back down on the sofa. “I already told you that was a misunderstanding.”

“What kind of misunderstanding could there be? That one setup directly led to your engagement with her!”

“If not her, then who? Xu Wanzhi?” Jiang Lingyu raised her head, her voice calm. “Then do you think the person getting examined today would be her?”

Song Nian suddenly fell silent.

In a way, Jiang Lingyu had actually benefited from misfortune.

If it had been Xu Wanzhi—a genuine alpha—marking Jiang Lingyu, the one injured might very well have been Jiang Lingyu.

Xu Wanzhi and Jiang Lingyu had the highest known compatibility score. She would have been unable to resist the allure of an omega’s pheromones.

Song Nian pondered for a moment, glanced at the “Under Examination” sign ahead, and pressed down on Jiang Lingyu’s shoulders as she leaned in closer.

Somehow, Jiang Lingyu didn’t stop her—perhaps lost in thought—and Song Nian swiftly peeled off the scent gland suppressant patch on the back of Jiang Lingyu’s neck.

The swollen bite marks were unmistakable, deep imprints of teeth.

And it wasn’t just a bite. The skin had clearly been sucked on for so long that it had turned a vivid red, starkly contrasting against the pale complexion around it. The sight was jarring.

“She bit you like this—how could she do this to you? I knew it!” Song Nian’s eyes burned with shock and fury. Finally, she understood why Jiang Lingyu had refused to show her. She immediately turned to fetch the private medical kit.

“Why would a beta even bite you?! And you’re still defending her—honestly, have you lost your mind after being bitten…?”

Dancing with a madwoman—what difference was there from being mad herself? Song Nian had thought Jiang Lingyu would heal with time after leaving that wretched place, but this discovery chilled her to the bone.

Perhaps those frenzied impulses inside Jiang Lingyu had never truly subsided.

Song Nian pulled out a tube of ointment and handed it to Jiang Lingyu with a deep frown.

Jiang Lingyu never let anyone else tend to her like this.

A person who hated anyone touching her scent gland had allowed another to perform such an intimate act of comfort.

And of all people, it had to be Xu Mifei—a beta, no less.

The ointment contained menthol, soothing the swelling and pain while leaving a cooling sensation. As it spread, it dissolved into droplets, some slowly absorbed, others trickling down.

For a fleeting moment, Jiang Lingyu couldn’t feel the ointment at all—as if she were still under Xu Mifei’s control.

In the next instant, the memory surged back, Xu Mifei pressing down on her scent gland, hands gripping her shoulders tightly.

As if deaf and blind, driven only by greed, saliva slipping past unswallowed—just like the droplets sliding down now.

The examination room’s sign beeped, and Jiang Lingyu jolted back to reality.

“Can a beta… really comfort me?” Jiang Lingyu heard her own voice ask.

“Only an omega marked by an alpha can be fully soothed. No matter what a beta does, it’ll only ever be temporary relief.” Song Nian’s expression darkened. This wasn’t something the old Jiang Lingyu would have even considered.

The old Jiang Lingyu would have severed all ties with the Xu family.

“Besides, she’s just an ordinary beta, and you’re a top-tier omega. The gap between your ranks is insurmountable.” That was why Song Nian suspected Xu Mifei had used some method—or tool—to force the issue, only to lose control.

Perhaps the method was so unthinkable that Jiang Lingyu couldn’t even admit it to herself.

It was absurd. Xu Mifei was already unhinged—why was Jiang Lingyu spiraling with her?

“Do you have another weakness Xu Mifei’s exploiting? Or has she teamed up with that sister of hers to torment you? Or—” Song Nian’s words cut off abruptly as the examination room door swung open.

An alpha doctor rushed out in a panic, the crumpled test results clenched in her hand.

Her name was Qu Weiying, one of the most outstanding students mentored by Song Nian. Even during her first public dissection in front of the entire hospital staff, she hadn’t shown a trace of nervousness.

“Professor Song, some of the readings are off… very, very off.” Qu Weiying’s hands trembled as she handed the test results to Song Nian.

Song Nian’s gaze froze upon scanning the document, then she looked up at Jiang Lingyu in shock. She took several steps back, staring at the results in disbelief.

The pheromone test indicated that this beta showed signs of pheromone emergence, with active presence in the bloodstream. Such cases had virtually disappeared in modern society. While there had been extremely rare instances of secondary differentiation in history, it had become ancient history. Most people had never even heard of such possibilities.

This was earth-shattering news—no wonder Qu Weiying had lost her composure.

“Did you already know about this?”

Jiang Lingyu shook her head, “I only had suspicions yesterday during the calming session… Is she awake yet?”

“She should regain consciousness in about ten minutes. For now, we’ll transfer her to the VIP ward. As for subsequent matters…” Qu Weiying hesitated, looking to Song Nian for guidance.

Song Nian’s mind was racing when Jiang Lingyu spoke up, “My agent will handle the arrangements. Let her rest for now.”

Understanding she shouldn’t remain, Qu Weiying acknowledged and left to make the arrangements.

“I need to ask you some questions to help me assess the situation.” Song Nian took a deep breath. “May I?”

“Make it quick. I need to check on her soon.”

Song Nian nearly choked on her professionalism. Maintaining a serious tone, she asked, “Did you complete tonight’s calming session? Were there any differences from previous sessions?”

Jiang Lingyu concisely described the calming method, then hesitated before adding, “Starting from the last session, I could smell her pheromones. At the time, I thought she might have been drinking and didn’t pay it much mind.”

“What did it smell like?” Song Nian paused her notetaking.

“A mix of alcohol and fruit juice… like grape rum, perhaps?”

This reminded Song Nian that when Xu Mifei first came to the hospital for wound dressing, she’d also detected an alcoholic scent. Ordinary alcohol fumes were unpleasant—harsh and pungent—but Xu Mifei’s had been more like perfume, predominantly sweet when not aggressive.

Perhaps she’d already been in a pre-emergence state then. At that level, the pheromones contained no personal identifiers, just a simple scent. Song Nian had initially mistaken it for pheromones, but her shock at Xu Mifei’s voluntary disclosure of being a beta had made her forget about it completely.

“When Xu Mifei took your engagement with Xu Wanzhi from you, was this the reason? Is that why she bit you that time too?”

“A’Nian, do you remember that theory we heard before?” Jiang Lingyu avoided the question, instead saying: “That top-tier omega pheromones can suppress other omegas, control alpha’s thoughts, and even trigger beta evolution.”

Song Nian shook her head disapprovingly, “You know that’s not scientifically substantiated.”

While the first two effects had been demonstrated to result from hierarchical dominance…

If Jiang Lingyu could resist the influence of pheromones, she could also use this to control Xu Wanzhi. But once the compatibility rate exceeds sixty percent, the effects become mutual.

As for inducing secondary differentiation in betas, such cases were exceedingly rare. Only those in the medical field knew that these so-called “secondary differentiations” were merely delayed differentiations.

All they needed was the emergence of an inducing pheromone to set them back on the right path.

The pheromones had to coincidentally match those of a specific omega at an extremely high rate to trigger their secondary differentiation and activate the pheromone factors.

Before this, Song Nian hadn’t understood why Xu Mifei was so obsessively determined to claim Jiang Lingyu.

It wasn’t until Xu Mifei revealed she was a beta that it suddenly made sense—she must have known about this theory and wanted to test it.

“The conditions for mutual high compatibility are extremely stringent. The first time she bit you, there were no abnormalities, so the idea that it could induce beta differentiation is theoretically unreliable.”

“I also thought it was just a rumor at first,” Jiang Lingyu lowered her lashes, “but later, she admitted she was a beta—and she could smell my pheromones. When she fainted, I released a large number of pheromones.”

Song Nian was silent for a long time.

The implications of Jiang Lingyu’s words were overwhelming, crashing into her mind all at once.

Having known Jiang Lingyu for so long, Song Nian had never seen her lose control. The only time she had ever released pheromones in such quantities was years ago, during an emergency—right after her own differentiation. After realizing how much influence her pheromones could exert, Jiang Lingyu had since maintained extreme self-control, restraining them even during her heat.

Yet she had lost control when a beta bit her? That was even more unheard of than a beta undergoing secondary differentiation…

Earlier, Song Nian had accused Xu Mifei of using tools recklessly, but now it seemed Jiang Lingyu was the one who had acted without restraint.

Knowing Xu Mifei’s unique circumstances, she had still released pheromones on a beta in the throes of pheromone awakening.

It was like pouring a bottle of catnip in front of a cat, handing an irresistible fix to an addict in withdrawal, or offering a lifeline to someone drowning on the verge of death.

To put it bluntly—it felt so good that she passed out from the sheer intensity.

There was no way Xu Mifei could have resisted. Being bombarded by such a massive wave of omega pheromones, fainting was the best-case scenario.

Jiang Lingyu watched as Song Nian’s expression shifted from anger to shock, then to something complicated and accusatory.

“…?” Jiang Lingyu met her gaze and asked, “What will happen to her?”

“If she continues to be stimulated by your pheromones, there’s a high chance she’ll differentiate in the near future.”

“You’re saying only my pheromones can trigger her differentiation.” Jiang Lingyu frowned. “Then why was I able to smell her pheromones during this stage?”

“Two possibilities. One—your compatibility is extremely high, even higher than yours with Xu Wanzhi. That’s why she could affect you, and you could affect her, even while she was still a beta.”

Jiang Lingyu fell silent for a long moment before speaking. “So… if she differentiates into an alpha, she’ll be the one with the highest compatibility with me.”

“It’s not just what you’re thinking. There’s another possibility—you two might be inherently incompatible. Cases like that have happened before.” Song Nian frowned, as if she had realized what Jiang Lingyu was considering.

Did she want Xu Mifei to become an alpha?

This matter was clearly a thankless task. If Xu Mifei became an alpha, Jiang Lingyu would have an even harder time escaping.

Jiang Lingyu recalled the scene where Xu Mifei had comforted her. “It didn’t feel like mutual repulsion.”

“Don’t act recklessly. The fact that she’s about to differentiate is already set in stone. Because your pheromones are abnormal, they accelerated her differentiation process,” Song Nian said. “As a friend, I suggest you divorce her immediately and cut ties. Don’t even tell her about this, because you might still encounter a fully differentiated alpha with higher compatibility in the future.”

That would be the best outcome for Jiang Lingyu.

But in the silence, Song Nian couldn’t ignore that one flaw in Jiang Lingyu.

Because Jiang Lingyu’s rank was too high, no other alpha could effectively comfort her. Even Xu Wanzhi, whose compatibility was nearly seventy percent, couldn’t fully mark her.

Ordinary omegas could live their whole lives without being marked, but Jiang Lingyu’s pheromone activity was too strong. She had been using high-potency inhibitors all this time, and prolonged use would inevitably lead to pheromone disorder.

If it became severe, it would cause dual backlash—both mental and physical—leading to irritability, paranoia, self-destructive tendencies, and a shortened lifespan. People like her rarely lived happily even if they survived.

The only solution was to find an alpha with over eighty percent compatibility to comfort her, but the genetic database had never found one.

Jiang Lingyu herself also harbored extreme disgust toward alphas, to the point where she despised even the idea of genetic database matching. She had always calculated her heat cycles and relied on inhibitors.

After all these years, this was the first time Song Nian had seen Jiang Lingyu forgo inhibitors in favor of manual comfort.

“So… did the comforting work?”

Jiang Lingyu nodded. She could already feel that her heat had safely passed. The intensity matched, and the stimulation from the bite was indeed necessary. Her nerves were still responding to the intense throbbing from earlier.

“So, from a doctor’s perspective, I suggest you… continue stimulating her. There’s a fifty percent chance she’ll differentiate into a highly compatible alpha and become your biological stabilizer.”

“Ah-Nian, this isn’t a choice I can make alone,” Jiang Lingyu said. “Xu Mifei told me she doesn’t want to become an alpha.”

Song Nian was stunned.

Are you kidding me?

Xu Mifei might as well have written “I want to be an alpha” on her forehead.

“I really don’t understand what either of you is thinking. She could also be lying through her teeth, trying to provoke you into making her differentiate into an alpha.” That was the only possibility Song Nian could think of. “…Now that I think about it, this person still can’t be trusted. You should divorce her as soon as possible.”

“Last time, didn’t you tell me that as long as she remained a beta, you’d at least be safe for the duration of the one-year agreement? Now you’re no longer safe, so hurry up and think about yourself.” Seeing Jiang Lingyu like this, Song Nian thought she resembled those omegas whose cognitive functions slowed after being marked for the first time.

So even someone like Jiang Lingyu could experience the same emotions and states as ordinary people during rank compatibility—instead of remaining cold and lifeless all the time.

Jiang Lingyu said, “If she abides by the agreement and only provides me with comfort or temporary marks during this year, helping my body’s pheromones stabilize, then it’s better for her to transform into an alpha than remain a beta.”

“Even if she ultimately differentiates into an alpha completely incompatible with me, there’s no need to worry about her marking me. Just treat it as… as if she were still a beta.”

“You must be insane!” Song Nian exclaimed. It sounded easy but putting it into practice would be incredibly difficult.

Not to mention whether Xu Mifei would abide by the agreement, even if it were the second possibility, the slightest overflow of pheromones from Xu Mifei would cause Jiang Lingyu unbearable pain, as if being repeatedly pierced by sharp needles.

Song Nian couldn’t understand: “Why do you think she can be trusted?”

Apart from Jiang Lingyu being momentarily swayed by the stimulation of the first soothing session, which changed her mind, Song Nian couldn’t find any other reason.

“She should be awake by now. I need to check on her.” Jiang Lingyu applied a new suppressant patch, her expression turning cold again.

Song Nian sighed and followed. She wanted to see for herself what was going on with Xu Mifei.

In the ward, Xu Mifei had been brought back half an hour ago.

The heart rate on her monitor remained above normal levels. Hu Huaimeng, who was waiting beside her, watched the figure on the bed with concern while jotting down notes and muttering to herself.

“Is this kid having a wet dream or something? She’s been so worked up the whole time…”

Hu Huaimeng resisted the urge to take a few photos.

Xu Mifei’s face was the stuff of many omegas’ fantasies—even among her friends in their thirties.

Honestly, this was her first time meeting the young CEO Xu.

If Jiang Lingyu hadn’t honestly disclosed that Xu Mifei had collapsed during the soothing process, she felt their first meeting would have been much more formal.

Now, she could only think of Xu Mifei as a superior who had overindulged to the point of exhaustion.

No sooner had she spoken than Xu Mifei’s fingers twitched, and her eyes opened.

The ward didn’t smell of disinfectant, but Xu Mifei knew exactly where she was.

A hospital.

Before passing out, she had been biting Jiang Lingyu’s neck, her entire body immobilized as if she’d become someone else.

In the moment before the pheromones overwhelmed her, her last shred of rationality returned, and the only thing she could do was pull Jiang Lingyu’s collar back into place before collapsing…

She sat up abruptly, startling Hu Huaimeng, who barely had time to introduce herself before Xu Mifei called her by name.

“Sister Meng, Jiang Lingyu’s new agent, right? Nice to meet you.” Her voice showed no sign of weakness. Hu Huaimeng was skeptical—was this really the same hands-off young CEO Xu? She carried herself with even more grace than Xu Wanzhi.

Hu Huaimeng was taken aback. “Young CEO Xu, you actually know me? I came to thank you.”

“You’re the top agent in my eyes. I know what you want to thank me for, but you’re the only one qualified to be Jiang Lingyu’s agent.” Xu Mifei smiled.

This unexpected trust made Hu Huaimeng’s heart flutter. It had been a long time since she’d felt this sense of being valued.

For a moment, she even forgot she was there as Jiang Lingyu’s agent to handle the aftermath. Moved, she said, “Young CEO Xu, I won’t let you down.”

Xu Mifei nodded.

She simply had the advantage of having read the book.

Hu Huaimeng’s professional skills were beyond doubt. Her only fatal flaw in the past had been being love-struck.

Her rise and fall were both due to her romantic idealism—she had elevated Zhang Songyuan to stardom out of true love, only to be betrayed.

As long as she overcame that weakness, she’d be unstoppable.

“I have something I need you to do—no, something we need to do together.” Xu Mifei, despite still being in her hospital bed, beckoned Hu Huaimeng over as soon as she saw her. “Jiang Lingyu has two contracts on her. One of them is a betting agreement with the company. Did you know that?”

Hu Huaimeng took two steps back in alarm. “Young Miss Xu, what are you planning… If this is just a feud with your sister, we subordinates can’t get involved.”

“No, this is solely for her sake.”

Hu Huaimeng’s eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend how such solemn words could sound so natural coming from Xu Mifei.

“I want to give her freedom. I already have a plan for how to do it, but I need your help.”

Xu Mifei raised her hand, and Hu Huaimeng understood, leaning in. After hearing Xu Mifei’s words, she excitedly grasped Xu Mifei’s wrist.

Before she could speak, a sudden, piercing sensation shot down her spine.

Every hair on her body stood on end, as if threatened by some higher-level creature.

Hu Huaimeng stiffly turned her head and saw Jiang Lingyu walks in, followed by Dr. Song.

Instinctively, she shuffled aside, making room for Jiang Lingyu by the bed.

For a moment, the room fell silent, with only Xu Mifei’s gaze following Jiang Lingyu’s movements.

Only the diligently working monitor, as Jiang Lingyu approached the bed, began beeping urgently, its numbers jumping from double digits straight to 120.

Xu Mifei: “…” She wanted to say she wasn’t nervous, but science wouldn’t let her lie.

Song Nian calmly and silently muted the monitor’s alarm, shooting Jiang Lingyu a look—This is what you wanted me to see? Why did you choose to trust Xu Mifei?

“Are you okay? Your neck… is it…” Xu Mifei looked at Jiang Lingyu sheepishly, then noticed Song Nian’s fierce glare and lowered her voice.

“I’m fine. But you fainted—due to excessively high pheromone concentration and overstimulation.” Jiang Lingyu stated coolly.

This matched Xu Mifei’s own guess. Though the room was filled with people she trusted, her face still flushed red. She covered her eyes to avoid Jiang Lingyu’s gaze and muttered, “It’s not your fault. It’s mine.”

She had known the stimulation was mutual. Jiang Lingyu had endured it, but she hadn’t.

Truly, a top-tier Omega was something else.

Even with her eyes covered, she could feel the heat of Jiang Lingyu’s gaze drifting between her fingers.

“Also, there’s one more thing. You might be undergoing secondary differentiation.”

Xu Mifei’s hands dropped instantly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

What kind of nonsense was this?

“Your earlier guess wasn’t wrong. My pheromones have an inducing effect on your differentiation. Currently, pheromones have been detected in your system.” Jiang Lingyu watched her closely, not missing a single shift in Xu Mifei’s expression.

All she saw was shocked and bewilderment—Xu Mifei seemed completely unaware.

Even resistant.

Jiang Lingyu continued, “If you continue receiving my pheromones, you’ll differentiate soon—into what you most desire to become: an Alpha.”

Not just Jiang Lingyu, but Song Nian was also watching Xu Mifei intently.

After Jiang Lingyu finished speaking, Song Nian noticed the heart rate on the monitor skyrocketing even faster.

Is this person not afraid of oxygen deprivation?

Indeed, she had been looking forward to this day for so long. Upon hearing she could become an alpha, she must have been overjoyed.

The next moment, Xu Mifei’s words took everyone by surprise.

“No!” Her tone was urgent, her resistance obvious. “I don’t want to undergo secondary differentiation.”

Seeing her agitation, Song Nian pulled Jiang Lingyu behind her and stepped forward. “Do you realize what you’re saying? Your scent gland is already developing. Secondary differentiation is inevitable.”

Xu Mifei suddenly felt a headache coming on. A delayed dizziness enveloped her again, making her previously upright body sway unsteadily.

“I can’t become an alpha. No… if I must differentiate.” Xu Mifei struggled to process the unfamiliar terms in her mind as she looked at Jiang Lingyu before her, raising her hand slightly.

Song Nian warily blocked her hand.

Xu Mifei took a deep breath and, as if making a firm decision, met Jiang Lingyu’s gaze.

“If differentiation is inevitable, then we must divorce quickly,” Xu Mifei said calmly. “Staying by my side is too dangerous for you.”

Song Nian was stunned.

Such a perfect opportunity, and Xu Mifei was talking about divorce?

Jiang Lingyu, who had been standing behind Song Nian, stepped forward and gently took Xu Mifei’s wrist by the hospital bed.

She turned it over, and under the light, the scar on Xu Mifei’s palm was clearly visible.

It was left from when she had gripped the broken porcelain shard. Though healed, a red, raised scar remained.

“This is the reason,” Jiang Lingyu said softly. “She picked up all the glass pieces and even caught the one I threw at her. That’s my reason.”

She herself was as shattered and sharp as that porcelain shard, but Xu Mifei had always extended a harmless palm, accepting her and enveloping all that sharpness.

After seeing old scars on Xu Mifei’s arm during a program, Jiang Lingyu had requested a full body scan when Xu Mifei arrived at the hospital.

Xu Mifei bore more than one old scar.

Some scars Jiang Lingyu recognized—she had similar ones herself. Others were unfamiliar, like the nail marks under her arms and along her waist. She couldn’t fathom why someone would have such wounds.

The freshest scar was the one on her palm.

Each scar and raised mark on Xu Mifei’s body coalesced into a soft balloon, landing in Jiang Lingyu’s heart, which was filled with shards and wounds.

So Xu Mifei had been accepting her with such a body all along, Jiang Lingyu thought—perhaps all it would take was picking up one more shard to burst this enormous, boundary-crossing balloon.

But Jiang Lingyu gave up.

As she swept away the fragments and let the balloon descend, the long-numbed wounds in her heart began to ache and itch.

So, she still had life left in her—the moment she decided to trust Xu Mifei, her wounds actually began to heal.