Mark Me, Okay? - Chapter 19

The moment she stepped onto the stairs, Luan Li sensed something was wrong. The air was thick with the sweet scent of milk, yet it wasn’t cloying—instead, it carried a refreshing clarity, much like the impression Qi Xiangxing always gave people.

The omega pheromones in the air were so intense that the soft, burning gland at the nape of Luan Li’s neck throbbed painfully, pulsing insistently as if announcing its presence. Her own pheromones surged uncontrollably, colliding with the omega scent in the air and producing a gentle, indescribable reaction.

Compatibility.

At that moment, Luan Li remembered the test results—her and Qi Xiangxing’s compatibility was 100%.

They were made for each other. It was meant to be.

Qi Xiangxing lay curled up on the bed, her hands trembling as she clutched a tube of suppressants.

The scent of the suppressants was unpleasant, especially for an omega like Qi Xiangxing with heightened senses—it carried a faintly oppressive undertone.

She gritted her teeth, her vision blurring as she stared at her hands.

In her right hand was the tube of suppressants. One sip, and she could temporarily free herself from her dependence on Luan Li.

Beside her left hand lay her phone. A single press of the call button would connect her to Luan Li. Qi Xiangxing knew—if she asked, Luan Li would come without hesitation, and then this torment would ease.

It should have been an easy choice, one that required no hesitation. Yet here she was, hesitating.

The memory of that omega lingering near Luan Li resurfaced, stirring fresh doubt in her heart. What should she do? What was the right choice?

Her body writhed against the sheets, seeking even the slightest relief, but it was like trying to put out a wildfire with a cup of water. The dilemma loomed starkly before her—

Either drink the suppressants, or call Luan Li.

With a determined clench of her jaw, Qi Xiangxing downed the suppressants.

Since the suppressants contained sedative components, drowsiness soon overtook her. The once-pervasive milk-scented omega pheromones gradually dissipated, fading into faint traces.

The suppressants contained certain tranquilizers and sleep-inducing agents, along with an undisclosed hormone-inhibiting compound. Prolonged use could not only damage the body but also risk addiction.

Curled up on the bed, cheeks flushed, Qi Xiangxing sank into deep slumber.

Just then, Luan Li knocked lightly on the door—a sound Qi Xiangxing didn’t hear. Anxiety tightening her chest, Luan Li pushed the door open, only to find scattered suppressant tubes and a small, huddled figure on the bed.

“Xingxing…”

Luan Li’s lips parted to call out, but her gaze caught on the empty suppressant tube lying discarded by the bed.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed, their rims inexplicably reddening.

Her Xingxing… would rather take suppressants than let her mark her?

Xingxing clearly loved her, so why… why wouldn’t she allow it?

Luan Li couldn’t understand. As she gazed at the sleeping Qi Xiangxing, a pang of sorrow twisted in her chest—yet the moment her fingertips brushed against Qi Xiangxing’s skin, that ache melted into warm sweetness.

Luan Li gently walked up to Qi Xiangxing and crouched down to look at her carefully. Qi Xiangxing was beautiful—Luan Li had always known this. Back in school, so many people had asked her to pass love letters to Qi Xiangxing simply because they knew they were close.

Thinking of those pink envelopes, Luan Li suddenly wondered—had she ever written Qi Xiangxing a love letter?

Was this why Xingxing felt insecure?

“Lili…” Qi Xiangxing, curled up on the bed, mumbled softly, smacked her lips, and hugged the blanket tighter, as if it were Luan Li herself.

Luan Li simply sat on the floor and reached out to stroke Qi Xiangxing’s head.

The alpha’s pheromones gradually emanated from her scent glands. Qi Xiangxing sniffled, feeling an unprecedented sense of security.

This feeling was just like being held in Luan Li’s arms. Qi Xiangxing wasn’t sure if it was due to so-called pheromone dependency syndrome, but she had felt this way for a long time—ever since Luan Li first embraced her.

“Lili… hug…”

Qi Xiangxing mumbled again, nuzzling her face against the blanket in her arms. She sniffed the air, catching Luan Li’s scent, and instinctively leaned toward it.

“Like a little puppy.” Luan Li thought of Bao Bao, the cat at Qi Xiangxing’s home. That little creature always clung to her, much to Qi Xiangxing’s frustration, who would scold it for being “a traitor seduced by beauty.”

But… seduced by beauty?

If Xingxing liked it, she wouldn’t mind seducing her a little.

Qi Xiangxing’s closed eyes fluttered, as if she was sleeping restlessly. She rubbed her face against the sheets again and murmured, “So cold… Luan Li, why are you so cold…”

Luan Li arched a brow and climbed onto Qi Xiangxing’s bed without hesitation. She wanted Qi Xiangxing to admit just how warm she really was.

The warm alpha invaded the omega’s territory, even burrowing into her embrace. Through the thin fabric of their clothes, Luan Li could smell the rich milk scent emanating from the nape of Qi Xiangxing’s neck.

Qi Xiangxing’s pheromones weren’t just plain milk—upon closer inspection, there was even a faint hint of vanilla.

Luan Li’s hand rested cautiously on Qi Xiangxing’s waist, the warmth and softness making it hard to pull away. Seeing that Qi Xiangxing hadn’t woken up, Luan Li dared to shift her hand a little more.

The alpha’s and omega’s pheromones mingled, blending together in perfect harmony. Luan Li buried her face against Qi Xiangxing’s chest, as if she were the one who needed protection—the omega.

Xingxing… if something’s bothering you, you have to tell me…

How else will I know if you’re unhappy?

Qi Xiangxing’s heartbeat echoed in Luan Li’s ears, making the tips of her ears burn red. She held her breath carefully until she heard their heartbeats gradually synchronize.

Thump, thump—each beat was a secret she had kept hidden in her heart for so long.

She had liked Qi Xiangxing for a long time. She couldn’t remember exactly when it started, but Luan Li knew that, at some point, just seeing Qi Xiangxing had always made her heart race.

The first time her heart raced, Luan Li thought she was falling ill. It wasn’t until later that she realized—this was the feeling of falling in love.

That feeling was probably this: when you see a sea of flowers or a starry sky, you’d always regret why you couldn’t share such beautiful scenery with her.

“Xingxing, do you like me?”

“…Luan Li?”

“Do you like me?”

“I don’t like you.” Qi Xiangxing sniffled, eyes tightly shut as she turned over and whispered, “I only like Luan Li.”