Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 25.1

In Zhu Yi’s recollection, Zhu Sui had always been the more spirited one—lively, carefree, and utterly unruly.

There were three children in the Zhu family. Zhu Yi had presented as an A-grade Omega at sixteen and later married Rong Mo.

Zhunian, as expected, presented as an A-grade Alpha at sixteen and officially assumed the responsibility of the Zhu family’s successor, carrying the weight of the entire family’s future on his shoulders.

At that time, Zhu Yi was nineteen and had just started dating Rong Mo. Zhu Sui was only twelve, still pondering whether she’d become an Alpha or Omega. She had grown up following in Zhunian’s footsteps. He was exceptional, and the Zhu family had enough prestige to brag about. She wasn’t the eldest nor the first Alpha in the family, so she had the freedom to be mischievous and playful.

Zhu Sui’s upbringing was, more accurately, carefree to the point of being indulgent.

When Zhu Yi was dating Rong Mo, Zhu Sui often played with Rong Qingshan—two mischievous monkeys, as Zhunian once called them. Both the Zhu and Rong families had military backgrounds and trained their children from a young age, so both Zhu Sui and Qingshan were athletic and often inseparable—drawn together like kindred troublemakers.

Zhu Yi vividly remembered once asking Zhu Sui, before she turned sixteen, what secondary gender she hoped for—Alpha or Omega.

Zhu Sui waved the question off carelessly, backed by the privilege of her family name. “Either’s fine. If I turn out to be an Alpha, I’ll have good stamina. If I’m an Omega, I’ll just be smarter. Honestly, even if I become a Beta, it’s no big deal. You and Zhunian are already amazing. With this brain and body of mine, I’ll be outstanding no matter what.”

In recent years, it had become more common for children of AO parents to present as Betas or not present at all.

As Zhu Sui and Rong Qingshan grew up, they gradually realized it was entirely possible that they would both be Betas.

But with Zhunian already an A-grade Alpha, Zhu Sui felt no pressure. In fact, she didn’t care at all. Whether she presented or not didn’t matter.

That confidence came from the family—and from the protection Zhunian gave her.

She had grown up under Zhunian’s wing, inspired by his excellence. To her, Zhunian was the best—whether she herself turned out well or not didn’t matter, as long as her brother was perfect. No one was allowed to speak ill of Zhunian.

He was her kin, her idol—

Even her life benchmark.

Time passed quickly. While Zhu Yi began discussing marriage with Rong Mo, Zhunian remained outstanding, and both Zhu Sui and Qingshan reached fifteen or sixteen.

That’s the age when children of prestigious families usually present.

If someone didn’t present by seventeen, they were generally assumed to be Beta.

Yes, theoretically, the later one presents, the higher their potential as an Alpha or Omega. But late presentation was rare—maybe one or two per generation. Most people presented on schedule.

So, when Qingshan finally presented as an A-grade Alpha just before his sixteenth birthday, and Zhu Sui still showed no signs of presenting, she began to understand.

At fifteen, Zhu Sui was full of anticipation. By seventeen, she was casually referring to herself as “one of us Betas.”

But she wasn’t upset. In fact, she was surprisingly optimistic.

She had always spoken honestly about her feelings. Whether she presented as an AO didn’t matter. If she became a Beta, that was fine too. Zhunian was already there—she’d spend her life as his support, his right hand, standing beside her brother in holding up the Zhu family.

In fact, as AOs became increasingly rare, Zhu Sui would often joke that AO aristocrats were outdated. Many of today’s rising Beta families had once been noble AO clans too. In another decade or two, if AOs became even scarcer, the family might end up relying on her, the Beta!

It was said in jest—but the fact she could joke about it with no trace of bitterness was a relief to everyone.

The Zhu family wasn’t conservative. With birthrates so low these days, every child was treasured. All the elders wanted was for the children to grow up healthy and happy.

But that balance shattered when Zhu Sui turned seventeen.

At seventeen, Zhunian was twenty-one—about the right age to begin seeking a partner within their social circle. Before the family could even arrange introductions, he fell for a Beta from another noble family—who

just so happened to be Zhu Sui’s tutor.

Since Zhu Sui hadn’t presented, the entire family was constantly on edge, worried about her mental and emotional state, afraid that… something might go wrong.

When they realized she might truly be a Beta, they began to worry about her future.

Her parents had their plans, but Zhunian—being closest to her—was more attuned to her daily life and emotional well-being.

Amid his own intense university schedule, it was during this period that Zhunian and Zhu Sui’s tutor developed feelings for each other.

But secrets never stay buried. When the relationship came to light, the patriarch not only scolded Zhunian but also rebuked Zhu Sui.

Zhunian said nothing, head bowed.

Zhu Sui, on the other hand, dared to talk back.

In the end, the old man didn’t hit Zhunian—he hit Zhu Sui.

After that, the household was plunged into a strange tension for months. Everyone could feel Zhunian’s pain.

And the patriarch’s unwavering commitment to tradition had long been etched into their aristocratic upbringing.

Then came that fateful evening.

Zhu Yi remembered it vividly. She had been working overtime at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, translating documents, feeling irritated. The sunset outside her window was slipping low when Rong Mo suddenly burst into the office in a panic. His first words—“Zhunian’s been in an accident”—left her brain blank.

Zhu Sui’s first call had been to emergency services.

Then she called every member of the family, one by one.

She couldn’t reach Zhu Yi, so she had called Rong Mo.

At the time, both Zhu Yi and Rong Mo were still fairly new to their jobs, but they didn’t hesitate to drop everything. Rong Mo drove them straight onto the highway.

He sped repeatedly, relying on his Alpha reflexes to avoid danger. Somehow, they made it.

They arrived almost simultaneously with the ambulance.

Zhu Sui had already struggled her way out of the car wreck. As they got out of their vehicle, medics were trying to stop Zhunian’s bleeding and prepare him for transport.

Zhu Sui was crying—but not sobbing, just quietly wiping away tears.

Zhu Yi called out, “Suisui.”

Zhu Sui turned her head, incoherent, saying one moment that Zhunian was seriously hurt, the next that she’d already tried basic first aid based on what she knew—but he was bleeding too much, she didn’t dare move him…

Zhu Yi pulled her into a hug.

After the crash, Zhu Sui was filthy from head to toe. At seventeen, she was still growing—her shoulders and neck trembling like fragile willow branches that could snap at any moment.

Bl00d was everywhere on the highway.

And in the sky, the setting sun bled red too.

…

Zhunian was rushed to the hospital.

When the doctor emerged from the emergency room and shook his head, Zhu Yi’s mind went completely blank.

But Zhu Sui immediately rushed inside.

By the time Zhu Yi regained her senses, she heard Zhu Sui’s heart-wrenching, guttural sobbing:

“No! Try again—please! My brother can’t be gone. He can’t be! Do you even know who he is? He’s an Alpha! An A-grade Alpha!”

When Rong Mo went in to pull her out, Zhu Sui had just placed her hand over Zhunian’s chest—his heartbeat had already stilled.

Clinging to Rong Mo, she broke down into loud, ragged sobs.

For the first time, she looked like a truly fragile seventeen-year-old girl.

________________________________________

News of Zhunian’s death rocked District One.

But his funeral was simple.

It rained lightly that day. Everyone wore black to send him off one last time.

Even his girlfriend came. The old patriarch didn’t drive her away. This was the same man who once declared, “If she stays, I leave,” yet in the end, he stood beside the person he claimed to hate most—watching his grandson be buried.

He aged noticeably overnight.

After that, Zhu Sui grew quiet.

But what hurt most were the rumors that spread like wildfire. Everyone knew Zhunian had swerved to protect Zhu Sui. Somewhere along the way, people began to whisper:

“Now that Zhunian is gone, what’s going to happen to the Zhu family…?”

“They’ve got no Alphas left. The only Omega’s already married off. What are they going to do?”

“If he hadn’t swerved, and it was just a Beta who died—maybe it wouldn’t have been such a waste…”

“Zhu Sui’s already seventeen. She probably won’t present anymore. I really wonder what the future holds for her…”

Rumors everywhere, impossible to trace.

Or maybe, everyone was the source.

Zhu Sui couldn’t sleep. Her mental state deteriorated badly. Though the patriarch never blamed her, she stopped speaking to him altogether. Once, Zhu Yi saw the old man quietly wiping away tears in front of Zhunian’s photo. She didn’t say anything—just turned and walked away in silence.

Zhunian wasn’t just Zhu Sui’s pride. He had been the pride of the whole family.

Zhu Sui wasted away.

Her second uncle and aunt finally decided to send her abroad to a convalescent facility, both for her health and to distance her from District One.

Zhu Yi and Rong Mo drove her to the airport.

At the terminal, Zhu Yi gently patted her shoulder and told her: “What happened to Zhunian is not your fault. Don’t overthink it.”

But Zhu Sui looked up, locking eyes with her. The intensity of her gaze made Zhu Yi uncomfortable.

Then, one word at a time, Zhu Sui said, “Jie, I will make something of myself.”

Zhu Yi froze.

Zhu Sui continued, “Now that Zhunian is gone, once I’ve recovered, I’ll take responsibility.”

Her cheekbones jutted out from weight loss. Her voice was firm, like a vow carved in stone.

“Zhu Yi, I still believe what I said back then. Even if I’m a Beta, I can be better than most Alphas and Omegas. A person’s success isn’t determined by their gender—it’s determined by themselves.”

“I won’t look down on myself. And no one else can deny my worth either.”

The girl gritted her teeth. Her dim eyes regained a glimmer of light.

“No matter the gender—Alpha, Omega, or Beta—I am Zhu Sui. I will never be anyone else.”

“My existence is unique and irreplaceable.”

Zhu Sui boarded the plane. Watching her retreating figure, Zhu Yi realized: Zhunian’s death had taken away her little sister’s shelter. From now on, no one would stand before her to shield her from the world’s harshness.

But their Zhu Sui had an unshakable soul.

Zhunian was gone, but she hadn’t collapsed. She had chosen to stand tall in his place.

She had even made a promise—to carry the Zhu family forward in his stead.

Zhu Yi cried that day, letting out years of pressure—and also weeping for their Suisui.

She had always lived with privilege, and her secondary gender had placed her at the top. That day, for the first time, she despised the favoritism and advantages that came with her gender.

She thought to herself: To hell with it. Whether A, B, or O—my family are the best people I know.

Let others misunderstand. She didn’t need their understanding.

________________________________________

Fate had other plans. A few months after going abroad, Zhu Sui presented—

As an S-class Alpha.

When she returned to District One, the whispers shifted tone.

Those who once said Zhunian died needlessly now claimed, “Heaven had its reasons. Who would’ve thought Zhu Sui was an S-class Alpha? The Zhu family is back in business.”