Mark Me, Okay? - Chapter 14

“Do you have some kind of pheromone dependency syndrome?” Hearing this, Qin Qing’s initial tension eased. She shot Yue Qiu a reproachful look, withdrew her hand, and resumed writing her script.

Yue Qiu leaned in closer. “Seriously, Teacher Qin!” She grabbed Qin Qing’s hand and, as if by accident, pressed it against her own chest. “Listen—can you hear how fast it’s beating?”

A faint blush flickered across Qin Qing’s face. She calmly retrieved her hand and remarked, “Your heartbeat seems irregular. Could it be arrhythmia?” After a pause, she added, “You should get a check-up at the hospital when you have time. Don’t let it affect your work. I can’t be responsible for managing those unruly kids in your class.”

Yue Qiu: ???

I was trying to flirt with you, damn it!

Qin Qing, you insufferable science-brained straight shooter!

Yue Qiu’s face fell. “I just remembered I have something to take care of in my class. Talk later.” With that, she stood up and hurried out—

So frustrating! She’d finally mustered the courage to flirt, only to be completely stonewalled!

Fuming, Yue Qiu swung her fists at the air in silent frustration.

It was break time, and Qi Xiangxing happened to be standing downstairs, sipping a milk tea while gazing at the scenery. She caught Yue Qiu’s outburst and promptly choked on her drink, coughing until her face turned red.

Yue Qiu froze mid-motion, then strode to the railing with a stern expression, looking down at Qi Xiangxing with an icy glare. The latter shrank back, clutching her milk tea and pretending to admire the view elsewhere—as if she hadn’t seen a thing.

Gritting her teeth, Yue Qiu muttered under her breath about how Qi Xiangxing had supposedly gone out for a medical check-up but somehow returned with a milk tea—and, worst of all, hadn’t even thought to bring one for her.

Hands clasped behind her back, she grumbled her way downstairs.

“Why are you on duty today?” After school, Qi Xiangxing hugged her backpack and went looking for Luan Li, only to find out she was on cleaning duty. Pouting, she said, “I have something to tell you!”

Luan Li turned her head while wiping the blackboard. “Go home first. I’ll be a while.”

Qi Xiangxing widened her eyes. “But we agreed!” After surreptitiously checking that no one was paying attention, she lifted her bag and whispered, “I brought you the book!”

Luan Li stifled a laugh. “It’s just a book, not a love letter. No need to act like a thief.”

Mentioning that only reminded Qi Xiangxing of the girl who had slipped Luan Li a love letter at the start of the semester. She pursed her lips and grumbled, “Keep your voice down! Don’t draw attention!”

Unbeknownst to them, the ears of every Class Three student quietly perked up.

“If you’re in a hurry, just take the book home. I’ll come get it from you later,” Luan Li said, puzzled by Qi Xiangxing’s behavior. After finishing with the blackboard, she picked up the rag and walked out, with Qi Xiangxing trailing behind.

At the sink, Qi Xiangxing leaned against the wall, watching Luan Li rinse the rag. In a hushed voice, she said, “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

Luan Li set the rag aside, washed her hands, and dried them with a paper towel. “Go ahead.”

Qi Xiangxing whispered, “It’s… hard for me to say.”

Luan Li was even more puzzled now. She blinked and stared fixedly at Qi Xiangxing: “Are you going to confess?”

Qi Xiangxing: ???

Qin Qing, who happened to be coming out of the restroom: !!!

Had she just stumbled upon something major?!

“Hello, Teacher Qin!” Qi Xiangxing, sharp-eyed, spotted Qin Qing emerging from the restroom and shouted loudly, startling her.

“School’s over, shouldn’t you be heading home?” Qin Qing quickly regained her composure, looking at Qi Xiangxing with an unchanged expression.

Qi Xiangxing’s face turned bright red. She stammered for a while before mumbling, “I… I need to talk to Luan Li about something.”

“Is Luan Li on duty today?” Qin Qing noticed the rag in her hand. “Have you finished cleaning?”

Luan Li’s face was also slightly flushed. “Teacher Qin, we’ve finished cleaning.”

“Then hurry home after cleaning up. Don’t keep others waiting.” As she spoke, Qin Qing winked at Qi Xiangxing, whose eyes lit up instantly. She almost wanted to hug Qin Qing and shout “Thank you for saving my life!”

“Why are you rushing me so much?” Luan Li gave Qi Xiangxing a reproachful look, her cool fingertips touching Qi Xiangxing’s slightly warm cheek.

Unusually, Qi Xiangxing didn’t show off her riding skills on the way home. She sped back and dropped Luan Li off at her doorstep. Standing at her own door, Luan Li still seemed a bit dazed. She stared blankly at Qi Xiangxing: “What’s gotten into you today?”

Qi Xiangxing roughly smoothed her wind-tousled hair and, after confirming no one she knew was around, pulled Luan Li aside conspiratorially. “Let’s not tell our parents about our Information Dependence Syndrome.”

Luan Li raised an eyebrow and corrected her seriously: “Yours, not mine.”

Qi Xiangxing froze, then repeated: “Don’t tell my parents about this!”

Luan Li smiled helplessly. “Got it. But if you have any problems, you still need to tell your parents.”

Qi Xiangxing straightened up and even gave a clumsy salute. “Yes, ma’am!”

Luan Li looked at her, her eyes filled with a tenderness she herself didn’t realize. “Should I still come over to your place?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Qi Xiangxing suddenly remembered her bet with that male beta named Wu Zhi. She swung her leg over her electric scooter and called back to Luan Li while riding: “I’m heading back first! Hurry up and come find me after you’re ready!”

“Hey! Be careful! Slow down!!” Luan Li’s warning came just as Qi Xiangxing crashed into a large rock.

Luan Li: …

For heaven’s sake, could you slow down?

Not daring to look back at Luan Li’s reaction, Qi Xiangxing pretended nothing had happened and calmly rode away.

“Xingxing! Lili is here to see you!” Mrs. Qi called upstairs before warmly inviting Luan Li in. “Come in, Lili. Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet, Auntie.” Holding a few books, Luan Li smiled politely. “Xingxing asked me to bring these over.”

“Oh?” Only then did Mrs. Qi notice the books in Luan Li’s arms. She blinked, wondering when her daughter had suddenly taken an interest in studying. Had she been stimulated after differentiating into an omega?

“Xingxing is upstairs. Auntie will bring you some fruit later,” Qi’s mother said as she watched Luan Li go upstairs, feeling uncertain about what Qi Xiangxing was up to.

How strange. In the past, getting Qi Xiangxing to study was like pulling teeth, so why had she suddenly started hitting the books now?

After pondering for a long while, Qi’s mother suddenly clapped her hands together, gazing at Luan Li’s retreating figure with delight. “Could it be that our Xingxing has finally wised up?”

“Did my mom ask anything?” Qi Xiangxing peeked her head out, scanning the hallway before pulling Luan Li into her room. She casually took the books from Luan Li’s hands and placed them on the desk.

“Nothing,” Luan Li replied, raising an eyebrow as she settled into the chair by Qi Xiangxing’s desk, arms crossed. “Alright, out with it. You’ve been acting mysterious all day.”

Qi Xiangxing tilted her head, studying Luan Li for a moment before suddenly leaning forward and wrapping her arms tightly around her.

Luan Li’s body trembled slightly as she rested her chin on Qi Xiangxing’s shoulder.

Whether it was illusion or reality, Luan Li felt as though Qi Xiangxing’s shoulder radiated a scorching heat that might burn her at any moment. Within a single breath, she found herself enveloped by Qi Xiangxing’s milky scent.

Normally, milk-scented omegas were considered the least aggressive type—even ranked as having the softest pheromones. Yet now, this familiar fragrance that Luan Li had grown accustomed to held an irresistible allure.

It felt as though one more breath would plunge her into complete surrender, as though if Qi Xiangxing spoke now, she would agree to anything without hesitation.

Xingxing, I’d give you my life—would that be enough?

Xingxing, I love you—but when will you finally realize it?

Luan Li sighed softly, subtly shifting her head to rest more fully against Qi Xiangxing’s shoulder. The unruly strands of Qi Xiangxing’s hair tickled Luan Li’s ear, sending tingles through her—an accidental yet intimate coincidence.

A secret, unnoticed thrill bloomed in Luan Li’s chest. Her heart pounded like a drum, and in that moment, her long-held desire to spend her life with Qi Xiangxing solidified with unprecedented certainty.