Gold-Medal Lawyer Alpha and Her Doctor Jiang - Chapter 9: Marking

Chapter 9: Marking

In the past, Cen Qingyi always experienced physical reactions on the day of her heat period, and she took suppressants to pass through it safely.

But today, before her heat period arrived, her body felt like it contained a tremendous force, crashing against her rationality. The scent of tuberose filled the room, making her feel like she was losing control.

Cen Qingyi, too frantic to find clothes, hurriedly rushed to the study, where she kept her suppressants.

Desire was a ferocious beast; the moment she tried to control it, it rebelled, growing so powerful in an instant that she couldn’t resist.

Cen Qingyi almost tore open the suppressant’s box, taking out the last capsule inside.

Without time to drink water, she tossed the capsule into her mouth and swallowed. It stuck in her throat, so she quickly stepped to the coffee table and drank the water she had poured for Jiang Zhiyi earlier.

A single small capsule needed time to take effect, and what worried Cen Qingyi more was that this time, the sensation came so fiercely that one pill might not be enough.

Jiang Zhiyi was still in the bathroom. Cen Qingyi found clothes, held her breath, opened the door, tossed them inside, slammed it shut with a bang, and fled the house like she was escaping.

**

When Jiang Zhiyi came out, the musky scent in the room was so strong it made her legs weak. As a doctor, she knew this was the scent an alpha emitted before their heat period—a commanding aura that pressured omegas while awakening their desire for powerful forces.

Jiang Zhiyi took a deep breath, looking at the steaming food on the table. She sat down, her breathing starting to warm.

Being with an alpha in heat, especially one with an alluring scent, was torment for an omega, especially since she had been marked before.

Jiang Zhiyi’s phone rang again. Her mother, Qin Qinglan, called to ask when she would return.

“I’m not coming back tonight.”

“What?” Qin Qinglan’s long-awaited hope faded, but she didn’t want her daughter to notice. “Are you on duty, or at a friend’s house?”

Jiang Zhiyi had just started at Xiehe Hospital, not from scratch, so she didn’t actually need to be on duty.

Jiang Zhiyi had volunteered for shifts before, but Qin Qinglan, worried about her getting tired, always nagged: Work well, but skip the shifts. Jiang Zhiyi, who rarely came home, had planned to return tonight, but meeting Cen Qingyi unexpectedly disrupted her plans.

“At a friend’s house.” Jiang Zhiyi raised her hand, rubbing the heated gland on her neck, and softly said, “Rest early, Mother. I’ll rest soon too.”

The room was filled with a deadly musky scent. If an omega nearing their heat period stayed in this space, their heat would likely come early.

That wasn’t a big deal. Jiang Zhiyi propped her chin with her hand, sighing lightly. What a pity—her little alpha had run away.

Jiang Zhiyi suddenly recalled a funny line: How does an alpha in heat save a broken omega in heat?

Especially since her little alpha had been running away since that night.

**

Jiang Zhiyi stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open. Cold wind rushed in, clearing her head.

Now clear-headed, she had the mood to watch the scene below.

The wilted flowerbed downstairs was still covered by the heavy snow from before. A tall figure circled the flowerbed, round after round.

Cen Qingyi had left too hurriedly, realizing only after rushing out that she wore only slippers. Now frozen, the ferocious beast inside her finally calmed.

Cen Qingyi didn’t dare let her guard down. She felt the heat in her body, her heart pounding fast. Though she had left, the scent of tuberose seemed to linger at her nose.

“Oh, what’s that smell?” A young couple returning at night laughed and chatted. “It smells nice.”

“If I’m not mistaken, one’s musk, and the other’s tuberose.” The man explained, like a lecture, how rare tuberose pheromones were. “Nine miles of floral fragrance, truly impressive. I think someone in the neighborhood bought tuberose-scented perfume, though this scent is quite pure.” He paused, then added, “How did I not know our neighborhood had musky pheromones? That’s something only top-tier alphas have.”

So it wasn’t her imagination. Cen Qingyi kept circling the flowerbed. Did Jiang Zhiyi know her scent had spread this far?

If some reckless alpha nearing their heat didn’t take their meds—or deliberately skipped them—how dangerous would it be for Jiang Zhiyi to leave at night?

Jiang Zhiyi was really something. Cen Qingyi fumed to herself. How could an omega thoughtlessly follow her home? Did she think Cen Qingyi was some saint?

It was because she had seemed too nice before, making Jiang Zhiyi fearless. Cen Qingyi recalled how, in her haste, she had barged into a pharmacy. An omega and a beta assisted her, both trembling. As she left, she overheard them whispering.

“She’s good-looking, but too fierce.”

“I thought she was going to rob us.”

“I thought she was going to hit me.”

Cen Qingyi laughed and cried. She had only spoken loudly and urgently because she was in a rush.

She should be fiercer with Jiang Zhiyi. Even top-tier omegas had omega traits—soft, delicate, timid, easily scared. Cen Qingyi plotted in her mind, her steps quickening as it grew colder.

The person on the rooftop yawned, muttering, “56.”

Yes, since Jiang Zhiyi started watching, Cen Qingyi had circled the flowerbed 56 times.

Under the influence of alcohol, Jiang Zhiyi grew sleepy. She held on for a bit but couldn’t resist, returning to the living room. She wanted to see when this person would come back.

The window stayed open. She collapsed on the sofa, waiting and waiting until she fell asleep.

**

Cen Qingyi felt the suppressant take effect, the powerful beast inside her fully tamed. She exhaled, heading home.

She smelled faint tuberose along the way. Jiang Zhiyi hadn’t left. This woman seemed foolish, staying so trustingly in her home.

Cen Qingyi sighed helplessly, stomping the snow off her feet before opening the door. Her frozen brain snapped awake—she patted her pockets and realized something: she forgot her keys.

Damn it!

Cen Qingyi wanted to knock—she had every right to; it was her home—but it was already 2 a.m.

Jiang Zhiyi had drunk so much, probably fast asleep. Waking her would be annoying.

Cen Qingyi paced a few times at the door, then sat by the stairwell, dozing off. Before sleep, she thought, after tonight, they really shouldn’t meet again.

In Jiang Zhiyi’s hazy dream, she heard a bell from an auditorium. She opened her eyes to a grand wedding hall. A luxurious stage held a couple blessed by all, embracing and kissing, their eyes only for each other. When the priest asked if anyone objected, she wanted to stand and shout, but her body felt paralyzed, stuck far away, watching them as tears flowed uncontrollably.

A tearing pain woke Jiang Zhiyi from her dream. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. The musky scent in the air was faint.

Ah… Jiang Zhiyi exhaled, remembering.

Outside, the sky lightened; dawn was near. Cen Qingyi hadn’t returned.

Staying out all night, huh.

**

Jiang Zhiyi got up to prepare. She had work. At this hour, it was better to take a taxi than have someone pick her up.

Before work, she needed to change clothes, considering which home was closest.

Before leaving, Jiang Zhiyi glanced back at the cramped room. Small as a sparrow, it had everything. Maybe because it was so small, it warmed up quickly when the window was closed.

Jiang Zhiyi opened the door and froze.

The hallway was thick with musky scent. Cen Qingyi slumped at the stairwell, her face flushed.

At first glance, it seemed like her heat, but Jiang Zhiyi touched her forehead—it was burning, not just heat.

Jiang Zhiyi bent down, dragging the person inside. She was strong, but for an omega, carrying an alpha taller and sturdier than her was tough.

Cen Qingyi leaned entirely into Jiang Zhiyi’s arms, her warm breath like a wolf on the prairie. Jiang Zhiyi turned her head to avoid it, but Cen Qingyi leaned closer.

Realizing belatedly, Jiang Zhiyi asked, “Are you awake?”

No answer. Jiang Zhiyi tried to pull away, but Cen Qingyi held her tightly, nearly crushing her ribs. She frowned, lightly hitting her chest, complaining, “You’re hurting me.”

Cen Qingyi buried her face in Jiang Zhiyi’s neck, her hot breath against pale skin. She inhaled deeply, mumbling, “Why didn’t you leave? Hmm?”

“Let me go.” Jiang Zhiyi pushed the person in her arms. “I’ll be late.”

“You should’ve left earlier.” Cen Qingyi muttered like a dream. “No, you shouldn’t have come last night.”

“You… ah.” Jiang Zhiyi was suddenly ambushed. Before she could react, her neck gland was attacked again. She could barely stand, suppressing herself, saying, “Do you know what you’re doing?”

The feverish person, rationality numbed by lingering alcohol, held Jiang Zhiyi tightly. “I, I want…” Her eagerness left her words incomplete, but Jiang Zhiyi understood. She held Cen Qingyi’s face, pushing it back, meeting her dazed eyes, and demanded, “Want to mark me?”

Cen Qingyi’s watery eyes held a pitiful look, as if denying her would be a betrayal.

Jiang Zhiyi pulled out her phone. “Mark me, then run away and pretend not to know me?” Her hand slid to Cen Qingyi’s ear, twisting it hard. Cen Qingyi winced, her drooping lashes trembling pitifully, as she whimpered, “It hurts~”

“Still hiding from me?”

“It hurts~”

“Still pretending not to know me?”

“It hurts, hurts~”

“If there’s a next time, I won’t be polite. I’ll punish you.” Jiang Zhiyi twisted the red ear, tilting her head slightly, asking, “Even so, you still want to mark me?”

“Yes.”