Mark Me, Okay? - Chapter 8

Luan Li is so annoying! Why does she have to stand by the window smiling at me like that?

Qi Xiangxing’s ears flushed red as she pretended not to see her, about to return to her seat to study, when Luan Li called out to her in a soft, sweet voice, “Qi Xiangxing!”

Even though she’s supposed to be an alpha now, why does she sound so much like an omega?

Still—Qi Xiangxing couldn’t help but feel happy that Luan Li had come looking for her. Putting on an expression that said, “Well, I can’t pretend not to see her now,” she reluctantly walked over. “What do you want?”

While Qi Xiangxing and Luan Li were talking, Du Ziheng quietly whispered to the class’s sports rep, “Hey, since our class monitor has already presented, don’t you think our ‘sister-in-law’ should have too?”

“Right!” The sports rep glanced at Luan Li and Qi Xiangxing chatting by the classroom door and murmured, “But I still feel like Class Three’s monitor is an omega.”

“I don’t think so. Look, our monitor presented as an omega—let’s be bold here. I bet Luan Li’s an alpha!”

“Nonsense! One error in the presentation test is already enough with our monitor. You really think our country’s testing is that unreliable?”

“You don’t believe me?!” Du Ziheng widened his eyes.

“Theoretically, it’s impossible. Just give it up.”

Luan Li handed Qi Xiangxing a key. “Your bike key.”

Qi Xiangxing kept her distance, not reaching for it. “You already rode me here this morning. You keep it.”

Luan Li took two steps forward, pressing the key—with its little Ultraman keychain—into Qi Xiangxing’s hand before retreating back to the safe distance Qi Xiangxing had set. Softly, she said, “Take it.” After those words, Qi Xiangxing noticed a faint blush on Luan Li’s face. “I’m not a great rider. You should drive.”

With that, Luan Li’s clear eyes flicked to Qi Xiangxing for just a second before she turned and strode away.

Qi Xiangxing stood frozen, both ears burning red, still holding the key in the same position it had been pressed into her hand.

“What’s going on here? The bell’s about to ring—why aren’t you inside for morning reading?” The homeroom teacher, Yue Qiu, appeared, eyeing the key clutched tightly in Qi Xiangxing’s hand. “Take your Ultraman and get inside!”

Qi Xiangxing let out an “Ah!” before turning and rushing into the classroom.

Yue Qiu sighed, turning to Qin Qing with a helpless shrug. “This kid’s been acting so weird ever since she presented as an omega.”

“You can’t handle the change?” Qin Qing snorted, hugging her lesson planner as she prepared to return to her own class.

Yue Qiu called out, “Hey—” stopping Qin Qing under her questioning gaze. Fidgeting slightly, Yue Qiu asked, “Um… is there a lesson planner inspection coming up? Why are you carrying yours around all the time?”

Qin Qing gave an “Oh,” waving the planner. “No inspection.” Then, with a teasing smile, she added, “What, Teacher Yue, if there’s no inspection, you won’t even write one?”

Caught, Yue Qiu laughed awkwardly.

“Make sure you do, or I won’t help you catch up next time they check.” Qin Qing arched a brow, half-complaining, half-resigned. “Why do you Chinese teachers have to write so much?!”

“Thank you, Teacher Qin, for saving my life!” Yue Qiu grinned, ushering Qin Qing away like she was seeing off a revered guest.

“Monitor, can I ask you something?” Du Ziheng whispered to Qi Xiangxing while Yue Qiu hadn’t yet entered the classroom. “What did ‘sister-in-law’ present as?”

Seeing Du Ziheng’s eager gaze, Qi Xiangxing suddenly felt a surge of heroic determination—so what if she had differentiated into an omega? If she was going to be an omega, she’d be the most alpha-like omega there was!

She cleared her throat. “Of course your sister-in-law is still your sister-in-law. Even if she became an alpha, she’d still be your sister-in-law.” Qi Xiangxing slapped the desk and stood up, declaring with grand ambition, “I’m the fiercest omega in the whole school!”

Du Ziheng was ecstatic: !!! Mom! My ship is still sailing! My ship has a happy ending!!!

No sooner had her words fallen than Yue Qiu walked into the classroom with a stern face. Standing at the podium, she tossed her book onto the desk, crossed her arms, and raised an eyebrow at Qi Xiangxing. “What are you doing, Qi Xiangxing? Sit down!”

Qi Xiangxing shrank back and obediently took her seat.

Yue Qiu opened her book and began assigning the morning reading tasks. After writing the memorization material on the blackboard, she dusted the chalk off her hands and said, “Today is the second day of the sports meet, so I won’t be checking memorization this morning. Everyone can take it easy.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the class erupted in cheers. Before the cheers could die down, Yue Qiu curled her lips into a teasing smile:

“I’ll be checking the material on the blackboard tomorrow.”

The class collectively groaned.

Qi Xiangxing suddenly remembered something and poked Du Ziheng, whispering, “I came in first yesterday, right?”

Du Ziheng nodded, his face full of admiration. “Yes! Absolutely! Class President, you totally won first place!”

Qi Xiangxing rubbed her chin. “Where’s the medal? Where’s my first-place medal?”

Du Ziheng smacked his forehead. “How could I forget about that!” He lowered his voice. “Our class’s sports rep went to collect it for you during the awards ceremony, but the student council said you had to pick it up in person.”

Du Ziheng stole a glance at Yue Qiu on the podium and whispered, “Class President, maybe you should go ask your sister-in-law next door later?”

Qi Xiangxing nodded thoughtfully, but just as she was about to speak, she looked up and met Yue Qiu’s amused gaze from the podium.

She quickly put on an apologetic smile and lowered her head to open her book and start memorizing.

Luan Li sat quietly in her seat, eyes downcast as she read. Qin Qing, seated at the podium, announced clearly, “Since it’s the second day of the sports meet, I won’t assign any tasks. However, Class Four’s Teacher Yue has assigned morning reading material. Luan Li?”

Luan Li looked up, startled by the sudden call.

Qin Qing winked at her. “Go to Class Four next door and copy down Teacher Yue’s morning reading assignment. She’ll be checking it tomorrow!”

The students of Class Three wailed:

“Ahhh! Teacher Yue is too harsh!”

“Even during the sports meet, she won’t let us off!”

“Class Four has it so rough, so rough.”

Luan Li stood up and headed to Class Four.

“Speaking of which, our class president seems to have differentiated into an alpha now!”

“Yeah, finally those guys from Class Four can stop showing off! Our class president is the real alpha here!”

“But honestly, our class president’s pheromones smell amazing—it’s almost intoxicating.”

“Get out of here! What’s a beta like you doing sniffing around? A gentle, kind alpha like our class president is what’s popular these days!”

“Monitor! Monitor! Your wife is here!” Du Ziheng’s sharp eyes immediately spotted Luan Li standing at the back door with her little notebook in hand.

Qi Xiangxing craned her neck to look, but upon seeing Luan Li, she quickly pretended to be indifferent, retracting her neck as if nothing had happened. Ignoring the rapid thumping in her chest, she said with a calm expression, “Oh, so it’s just Luan Li? What’s the big deal?”

Though her face remained unreadable, the big tail behind her wagged excitedly back and forth.