Mark Me, Okay? - Chapter 5

After making the phone call, Father Qi’s expression shifted from nervousness to excitement, then to sheer delight: “Great, great! I’ll call you back after Xingxing wakes up!”

Seeing the change in her husband’s expression, Mother Qi asked, “What happened? What did Lili differentiate into?”

“Lili is an alpha! Hahahaha!” Father Qi put down the phone and slapped his thigh enthusiastically. “Perfect! The arranged marriage between our children still stands!”

Mother Qi’s expression, however, turned peculiar.

Father Qi belatedly noticed her reaction. “What’s wrong, dear?”

“…So how exactly are we going to explain to Xingxing that she’s become an omega, while her originally omega fiancé has turned into an alpha?”

Both parents fell into simultaneous silence.

When Qi Xiangxing woke up, she felt invigorated, as if her entire body was brimming with energy.

—Could this be the legendary feeling of being an alpha?!

But the moment she tried sitting up, her limbs felt weak and devoid of strength.

That’s odd… Did I overexert myself during my run earlier? She tried recalling her workout intensity—that couldn’t be it. Her usual training sessions were far more intense without causing such fatigue.

Grimacing, Qi Xiangxing managed to sit upright. She sniffed the air, catching a faint milky scent. Leaning against the headboard, she wondered who’d been drinking milk when her parents cautiously pushed open her bedroom door.

Tilting her head, Qi Xiangxing eyed her unusually careful parents with confusion.

Something… felt off?

Why was her father grinning like that?

The calm before the storm. Qi Xiangxing instinctively hunched her shoulders.

“Xingxing, you’re awake?” Father Qi approached cheerfully.

Forcing a smile while frantically reviewing recent misdeeds, Qi Xiangxing replied, “Yeah, just woke up…”

“How are you feeling? Any discomfort?”

Her father’s uncharacteristic concern sent chills down her spine. She shot a pleading look at her mother, blinking rapidly.

Mother Qi cleared her throat but remained silent.

“My… legs and arms feel a bit sore,” Qi Xiangxing ventured cautiously.

“You overdid your workout earlier,” Father Qi beamed with paternal warmth. “You should take better care of yourself.”

This only heightened Qi Xiangxing’s unease—had some spirit possessed her father? Normally he’d chase her out with a stick if she lazed around at home for a day. Why this sudden…

Unable to bear it any longer, Mother Qi intervened gently, “Xingxing, you’ve undergone differentiation.”

Qi Xiangxing’s eyes lit up as she burst out excitedly, “Really, Mom? Am I an S-rank alpha then? Hahaha, I knew it! With our family’s superior genes—”

Her smile faltered upon seeing Mother Qi’s stiff expression. Hesitantly, she continued, “N-not S-rank? That’s okay too, I—”

Mother Qi cut in, “You’ve differentiated into an omega.”

“I’m fine not being S-… WHAT?!” Qi Xiangxing’s eyes bulged as she shrieked. Blinking rapidly, she whispered, “Mom, are you running a fever?”

Mother Qi remained silent.

Qi Xiangxing’s expression turned serious as she thought of Luan Li. She cautiously asked, “What about Luan Li then?”

Before her parents could respond, she began wildly speculating: “What if she’s also an omega? Two omegas together can’t have a fulfilling s3x life… Actually, her being a beta would work too… Mom, would you mind an omega-beta relationship? I think omega-omega could also—”

“Lili differentiated into an alpha,” Father Qi mercilessly interrupted her musings.

“An alpha???” Qi Xiangxing’s voice cracked. Her eyes widened into perfect circles as she stared at her father. “Dad, don’t lie to me! Luan Li’s test results said she’d differentiate into an omega!”

Remembering this, Qi Xiangxing relaxed slightly—there were still their official differentiation test results! Those couldn’t possibly be wrong, could they? Even if there was a mistake, it wouldn’t happen to both of them simultaneously! How had she fallen for her father’s trick?

Qi Xiangxing was certain they were trying to deceive her.

Having made up her mind, she looked at her parents and decided to play along with their little act. She leisurely asked, “Since I’ve differentiated into an omega, what’s my pheromone scent?”

If this was all a joke, she might as well see it through to the end!

Father Qi pressed his lips together, looking uncomfortable.

Mother Qi sighed and sat beside Qi Xiangxing’s bed, speaking softly: “Xingxing, I know this is hard to accept right now, but… you’re an S-class omega. Even though you’re an omega, your rank is very high, you—”

“…So what’s my pheromone scent?”

Father Qi’s expression turned peculiar: “You really want to know?”

Qi Xiangxing nodded, thinking her parents’ acting skills were phenomenal—they should’ve been actors instead of businesspeople.

“Milk-scented.”

Qi Xiangxing nearly burst out laughing.

As if being an omega wasn’t feminine enough, now with milk-scented pheromones too? How much more stereotypically omega could she get!

“Alright, alright, let’s stop joking around. I need to get ready for school soon!” Qi Xiangxing grinned broadly. “You two are amazing actors! Seriously! Full marks!”

The Qi parents exchanged glances, mutual resignation in their eyes. Mother Qi shook her head slightly at Father Qi, signaling him to leave first. After he exited, she said gently, “Xingxing, you really have differentiated into an omega. We’re not lying to you.”

Qi Xiangxing’s smile froze. Looking at her mother’s earnest face, she sniffed the faint milky scent in the air and suddenly began to doubt—

This couldn’t be real, could it? How could she be an omega? If she was an omega, how could she marry Luan Li? Omegas couldn’t have fulfilling relationships with other omegas!

“Feel your scent gland.”

Qi Xiangxing immediately raised her hand to touch the back of her neck.

Though both omegas and alphas have scent glands on the back of their necks, an omega’s gland is harder and more sensitive, while an alpha’s is softer.

When her fingertips touched the firm, warm gland, Qi Xiangxing froze completely, her hand remaining in place. After a long moment, just as Mother Qi was about to offer comfort, Qi Xiangxing lowered her hand, head bowed, eyes downcast.

She sat on the bed in a daze, looking utterly dejected—now she truly resembled an omega.

“Mom… do you think two omegas can be happy together?” Qi Xiangxing was now certain that the faint milky scent earlier had come from her own body. She asked her mother in despair.

Mrs. Qi’s smile turned peculiar. She raised an eyebrow and asked, “You don’t actually think Lili also presented as an omega, do you?”

Qi Xiangxing jerked her head up, her voice cracking: “She didn’t?!”

Mrs. Qi shook her head and finally told her the truth: “Your father wasn’t lying. Lili really presented as an alpha.”

Qi Xiangxing sat there dumbfounded. After a long pause, she suddenly collapsed onto the bed, buried her head under the blanket, and let out a wail.

What’s it like to present as an S-class omega?

Thanks for asking. Pretty despairing—especially when everyone had assumed you’d be an alpha.

“Lili, if you have time, go check on Xingxing.” Mrs. Luan gazed softly at her daughter, who had presented as an S-class alpha. None of them had expected Luan Li to become an alpha.

Luan Li paused her chopsticks and let out a soft “Ah.”

“Xingxing presented as an omega. The psychological adjustment must be hard for her. Visit her when you can,” Mrs. Luan said, but Luan Li seemed lost in thought.

Earlier, she had accompanied Qi Xiangxing in the ambulance to the hospital. During the ride, Qi Xiangxing had already begun presenting. The accompanying beta nurse, unfazed by the sight, simply said, “Don’t worry,” before moving to the front passenger seat.

In the enclosed space, only the two of them remained. Burning with fever, Qi Xiangxing leaned limply against her, cheeks flushed, her scent glands releasing the distinctive fragrance of an omega. Luan Li’s body temperature ran cooler, and Qi Xiangxing clung to her, nuzzling while murmuring:

“So comfortable…”

Luan Li didn’t dare look at her but worried she might hurt herself, so she held her tightly.

Xingxing… if only you were always this well-behaved.

“Luan Li… Luan Li!” Qi Xiangxing buried her face against Luan Li’s chest, calling her name over and over.

Luan Li stroked her hair, answering each time: “I’m here.”

“You have to wait for me to marry you!” Qi Xiangxing lifted her gaze, eyes hazy with unshed tears, the corners tinged red. Her usually lovely face now carried an uncharacteristic allure. Her fingertips traced Luan Li’s jaw—light, cool, yet igniting a fire.

Luan Li pressed her hand down, voice low: “Stop messing around.”

“Luan Li, you meanie!” Qi Xiangxing pouted. Mid-presentation, her rationality had burned away, leaving only raw emotion. She tried to push away, but her arms gave out, and she collapsed back into Luan Li’s embrace.

Suddenly, Qi Xiangxing grabbed Luan Li’s collar, sniffing at her like a puppy. She wrinkled her nose and whined, “You smell so good!”

Luan Li’s throat tightened.

“Lili?” Mrs. Luan waved a hand in front of her daughter’s face. “Lili? What are you thinking about?”

Luan Li finally snapped out of her daze, a faint blush appearing on her fair, exquisite face as she stammered, “N-nothing much.”

“After you finish eating, go check on Xingxing!” Luan’s mother thought for a moment. “Oh, and take those books about omegas from my study to her. Be tactful when you talk—don’t scare her.”

Luan Li responded absentmindedly, her thoughts still in disarray.

On the ambulance… and then? What happened next?

All Luan Li could remember was her rapidly accelerating heartbeat, Qi Xiangxing’s breathing, and… that gentle kiss that had brushed her lips.

By the time she regained her composure, she was already standing at Qi Xiangxing’s doorstep. Looking at the books in her hands, Luan Li smiled wryly. She was slightly worried Qi Xiangxing might throw both her and the books out.

Luan Li used to visit Qi Xiangxing’s home often as a child, but after entering high school, her visits became rare—limited to holidays when she accompanied her parents to visit Qi’s parents.

Just a few days ago, they had celebrated their eighteenth birthdays together, though Qi Xiangxing had seemed somewhat unhappy about it. The thought made Luan Li sad, but she quickly composed herself and rang the doorbell.

The housekeeper answered the door. Seeing Luan Li, she smiled warmly. “Lili’s here!” The housekeeper had worked for the Qi family for over a decade and had watched both girls grow up. “Xingxing is upstairs, she…”

The housekeeper trailed off, but Luan Li understood. The transition from alpha to omega, from protector to protected, was too drastic a change for Qi Xiangxing to accept so quickly.

Luan Li put on a well-behaved smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her properly.”

She just hoped Qi Xiangxing wouldn’t throw her out along with the books.

“Uncle Qi, Auntie Qi.” Luan Li carried the stack of books into the living room and greeted Qi’s parents.

Qi’s father nodded with a smile, while his wife stood up and approached Luan Li, speaking softly, “Lili, please help us persuade Xingxing. She hasn’t been eating at all.”

Luan Li agreed, but before she could say anything else, Qi’s mother noticed the books she was holding. “Oh! Are these the books your mother asked you to bring?”

Glancing down at the title on the cover—The Self-Cultivation of a Gentle Omega—Luan Li gave an awkward smile. “Yes… my mom told me to bring these.”

“See how thoughtful Lili’s mother is!” Qi’s mother remarked to her husband, then suddenly noticed a package on the table. “This is a book Xingxing ordered…”

Before she could finish, Luan Li quickly interjected, “I’ll take it up to her!”

“Ah! Okay… thank you, Lili.” Qi’s mother was momentarily taken aback but grew even fonder of Luan Li.

Picking up the package, Luan Li smiled at Qi’s parents and headed upstairs to find Qi Xiangxing.

Standing outside the door, she knocked and faintly caught the scent of milk wafting from the room.

Had Qi Xiangxing really presented as a milk-scented omega?

Luan Li sighed. Hearing no response from inside, she raised her hand to knock again, but before her fingers touched the door, a muffled voice came through: “It’s unlocked.”

Luan Li spoke softly, “Then I’m coming in?” With that, she pushed the door open.

The room was filled with a rich milky scent that rushed aggressively into Luan Li’s nostrils. She froze in her tracks, her throat bobbing as an alpha’s instinctive reaction surged through her.

She wanted to hold her, to kiss her,

To see her eyes glazed with desire, to make her cry. To…

Ruthlessly dominate her.

Qi Xiangxing lay sprawled on the large bed in the room, wrapped tightly in a blanket. The semi-enclosed space made the milky scent clinging to her even more pronounced. Her mood darkened further—

Even becoming a beta would have been better than turning into an omega! Now, how was she supposed to face Luan Li?

Especially now! When Luan Li had become an alpha!

The sweet, delicate omega wife she’d sworn to marry since childhood had turned into an alpha! And! She! Had become a soft, submissive omega.

Qi Xiangxing felt her life was shrouded in gloom.

Hearing Luan Li’s voice, she instinctively called her in. But the moment Luan Li entered, regret flooded her—she shouldn’t have let Luan Li see her like this!

Overcome with shame and frustration, Qi Xiangxing burrowed deeper into the blanket. Yet even hidden beneath the covers, she could clearly hear Luan Li’s approaching footsteps—

“Qi Xiangxing.”

Luan Li’s voice.

Qi Xiangxing wrapped herself tighter, unwilling to speak—at least not now. She didn’t know how to face Luan Li, her mind in turmoil.

Luan Li knelt beside the bed and gently patted the blanket-covered form, whispering, “Xingxing.”

Qi Xiangxing didn’t understand why she’d become so sensitive that even this light touch through the thin fabric sent shivers through her body.

Where Luan Li had touched now tingled strangely, an indescribable warmth breaking through her defenses like a flood.

“Xingxing, it’s okay,” Luan Li exhaled softly, comforting her. “We all face different challenges—life is about overcoming them. Look, being an omega isn’t so bad.”

Luan Li lowered her gaze, determination flashing in her eyes. “You’ve always protected me before. Now it’s my turn to protect you.”

Qi Xiangxing felt the room temperature spike the moment Luan Li entered. Suffocating under the blanket, she loosened it slightly to steal a breath.

As she peeked through the gap for air, her eyes accidentally met Luan Li’s intense gaze.