Mark Me, Okay? - Chapter 25

“Does Xingxing not like it?” Luan Li’s deer-like clear eyes shimmered with unshed tears, gazing at Qi Xiangxing with a wounded expression, as if the next rejection would send them cascading down.

Qi Xiangxing’s lips parted slightly, unsure how to respond.

Luan Li’s thumb brushed lightly over Qi Xiangxing’s lips, her voice carrying a dangerous edge yet laced with inexplicable grievance: “Xingxing… do you not like it when I kiss you?”

Qi Xiangxing’s half-dazed mind was utterly bewildered: Wait, what? I’m the one being pinned down and kissed senseless here—why are you the one acting hurt???

But she truly couldn’t bear seeing Luan Li upset, so she lowered her head and cautiously murmured while watching Luan Li’s eyes, “…I like it.”

“If you like it, then let’s kiss a little longer, okay?” Luan Li’s words barely finished before she sealed their lips again, giving no room for refusal.

The familiar taste of mouthwash, mingled with Luan Li’s pheromones, overwhelmed Qi Xiangxing’s senses. She could barely keep herself upright, clinging to Luan Li for support.

Gripping Luan Li’s arm, Qi Xiangxing pleaded, “Lili…”

“Shh…” Luan Li nipped her lip in punishment. “Call me jie jie.”

Damn you, Luan Li!

What kind of kink is this?!

Qi Xiangxing swore she never wanted to say it—but Luan Li forced her, biting her lip until she relented.

“Jie jie…” Qi Xiangxing’s voice trembled with a sob. She sniffled pitifully, uttering the title like a surrender.

Luan Li stroked her head, thoroughly satisfied.

“Why did you use mouthwash earlier?” Flushed-cheeked Qi Xiangxing now sat on Luan Li’s lap, arms looped around her neck, glaring accusingly. “Do I disgust you?”

Luan Li gave her rear a light squeeze. “Didn’t you say you have germaphobia?”

Qi Xiangxing: ???

A sudden wave of guilt hit her—she had claimed that once, though she couldn’t remember when. But… that was ages ago!

Luan Li pouted. “See?”

Qi Xiangxing rubbed her nose sheepishly.

“You should make it up to me,” Luan Li suggested sweetly.

After a moment of agonized deliberation, Qi Xiangxing leaned in and pecked Luan Li’s lips—then immediately tried to bolt, as if burning her bridges.

Luan Li caught her by the waist, yanking her close before capturing her lips again, this time with slow, teasing licks.

“I really want to devour you…”

Her voice dripped with barely restrained hunger.

Qi Xiangxing stiffened, genuinely afraid Luan Li might do it right then.

“Lunch break’s almost here.” Noticing her tension, Luan Li chuckled and pulled out a fresh blanket from a nearby cabinet. “Rest on the sofa for a bit.”

Clutching the blanket, Qi Xiangxing glanced between Luan Li and the sofa before hesitantly offering, “…You should join me.”

Luan Li froze.

“The sofa… we can adjust it.” Qi Xiangxing pointed, then suddenly remembered her vow to be the most dominant Omega—yet here she was, utterly subdued.

This is humiliation!

Qi Xiangxing clenched her fists. I will rise again!

“I want to sleep on the outside!” Qi Xiangxing thought happily, a strong omega should always protect her soft alpha! It’s not really that different from before, right?

Right? Right… right?

Luan Li nodded: “Okay.”

How could she not understand Qi Xiangxing’s thoughts? She just chose not to point it out.

Qi Xiangxing pursed her lips and gleefully lay down at the edge of the sofa. But she hadn’t expected that Luan Li’s earlier kisses had left her legs so weak she could barely stand. She lost her balance and nearly rolled right off.

Just as she thought she was about to meet the floor face-first, Luan Li reached out and caught her.

Qi Xiangxing stared blankly at Luan Li’s gentle, harmless face, then at the smooth, well-defined muscles on her arms.

Qi Xiangxing: “…”

How… how is my soft alpha girlfriend stronger than—than me?

Soft alpha Luan Li pulled Qi Xiangxing into her arms and shifted them both toward the center of the sofa. She spoke softly, her voice barely more than a whisper: “Sleep.”

Qi Xiangxing wanted to say something else, but Luan Li added, “Be good, baby.”

Soon, the day of midterm exams arrived.

While setting up the exam hall the day before, Qin Qing and Yue Qiu stood outside watching the students clean up.

Qin Qing checked her watch: “The dean will be here to inspect in half an hour.”

Yue Qiu called out, “Hurry up, everyone! The dean’s coming soon!”

Qin Qing chuckled. “There’s still half an hour. Why the rush?”

“I’m impatient,” Yue Qiu huffed.

“Still mad?” Qin Qing sighed. “I just talked to Cao Nannan for a bit. She was my student before—what’s wrong with a teacher chatting with her student?”

Mentioning it only made Yue Qiu angrier—what was Cao Nannan’s problem? She taught Class 7’s English, so why was she seeking Qin Qing out to chat? What was there even to talk about? She was clearly just making excuses!

Call her petty, call her unreasonable—she just couldn’t stand seeing Cao Nannan cling to Qin Qing.

Hmph, as if she didn’t know Cao Nannan had feelings for Qin Qing too!

The thought made Yue Qiu even more upset.

Qin Qing had no idea why she was really angry, assuming it was just about Cao Nannan. Though she thought Yue Qiu was overreacting, seeing her pout made Qin Qing relent:

“Fine, I won’t talk to her anymore, okay?”

Yue Qiu shot her a skeptical look. “I don’t believe you.”

Qin Qing shrugged, eyes full of amusement. “Then what do you want me to do? The school assigned us to proctor the same exam hall. We can’t just ignore each other. It’s just polite small talk between colleagues.”

Yue Qiu knew she and Qin Qing weren’t dating. She knew she had no right to demand anything from her. But… ugh! She just couldn’t help feeling unhappy about it.

“Alright, don’t be mad. I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow!” Qin Qing said helplessly.

Yue Qiu lowered her head, thinking for a moment before murmuring, “Sorry, I… I shouldn’t have said that.” After all, Qin Qing wasn’t her girlfriend. What right did she have to make demands?

Qin Qing didn’t respond, but in the shadows where Yue Qiu couldn’t see, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

I like you, Yue Qiu.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.