Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 7

It wasn’t unreasonable for Zhu Sui to think this way—after all, there were subtle differences between how Omegas and Alphas experienced differentiation. S-class Alphas used a special, government-issued suppressant, but it had been decades since there had been any records of S-class Omegas. Even while she was in the hotel, she hadn’t been entirely sure.

Later, when she returned to her unit and checked her records, she discovered that her own classification had also been updated—to special-grade.

Still, she hadn’t gone out of her way to tell Song Zhen. First, she had messaged Song Zhen several times in the first two days without receiving a single reply. The silent treatment was loud and clear—Song Zhen wanted nothing more to do with her.

And second—well, if Song Zhen didn’t want to be associated with her, Zhu Sui wasn’t going to make a fool of herself by chasing after her.

Human relationships should be mutual.

She had already promised: if Song Zhen truly had nowhere else to turn, she would come find her.

Until then, all Zhu Sui had to do was wait.

…Though admittedly, the waiting had already lasted much longer than she had expected.

________________________________________

“Miss Li, this is Zhu Sui—from the Zhu family…” Rong Qingshan introduced them.

“Hello.” The woman called Miss Li blushed slightly.

“Hello,” Zhu Sui nodded politely and shook her hand.

After a few polite exchanges, Rong Qingshan led Zhu Sui further inside. As they walked, she suddenly asked, “So? Did my grandfather ask you to set me up with an Omega?”

Rong Qingshan stiffened, then laughed awkwardly, “What? No way. Nothing like that.”

Zhu Sui smiled, but the amusement didn’t reach her eyes. She raised her hand and casually cracked her knuckles in front of him—a silent but very clear warning. Her voice was lazy and deliberate: “So tell me,

Qingshan… are you stupid, or do you think I am?”

“…”

“What do you mean, ‘nothing like that’? We’ve barely taken ten steps and I’ve already bumped into the fourth Omega. Are you a human Omega detector or what?”

“…”

Was that even something a human should say?

Rong Qingshan nearly choked in exasperation—but he didn’t dare argue. Why? Because he had been terrified of Zhu Sui’s combat skills ever since they were kids.

When he stayed silent, Zhu Sui reached out as if to put a hand on his shoulder.

Panicked, he instinctively flinched and snapped, “You already figured it out—what more do you want me to say? You’re just being mean at this point!”

“So, you admit it?”

“What else could I do? Say no to your grandfather? Refuse and get on his bad side?” he glared at her.

Zhu Sui actually gave it some serious thought, then nodded. “Sounds like a legitimate concern.”

“…”

“Zhu Sui, come on. I’m stuck between the two of you—do you think I enjoy this?” Rong Qingshan sighed. “Besides, I’m doing this for your own good.”

“For my own good?” Zhu Sui raised an eyebrow.

“Of course. I mean, how often do you just ‘happen’ to run into four Omegas in a row? And besides…” He paused, then said gravely, “You can’t keep using your grudge against the old man as an excuse. You don’t even like anyone yet, and you’re refusing to marry an Omega? You’re the only Alpha left in your family. If you don’t marry and have children, who will?”

His words were blunt—and hit home. Zhu Sui fell silent.

Seeing that, Rong Qingshan pressed on, “You can fight with your grandfather all you want, but your brother’s gone now. In a family like ours, if you really didn’t want the burden, why did you work so hard for those military merits? With the birth rate as low as it is, if you mess up now… who’s going to carry the legacy?”

Zhu Sui’s gaze dropped. She started walking again. “Enough.”

Rong Qingshan blinked and followed. “What do you mean, enough? Did I say anything wrong?”

No—everything he said was correct. Zhu Sui agreed with every word.

But…

She said coldly, “To be precise, what families like ours need… is AO offspring.”

“Exactly! Which means you have to marry—”

Zhu Sui stopped abruptly, turned to face him, and met his gaze head-on. “But the partner I want is someone I love. Someone who is my equal—mentally, emotionally. Not just a womb on legs.”

“…”

“But—”

“I get what you’re saying,” she cut in. “But I also have my own thoughts.”

Then, lowering her gaze slightly, she added, “Besides, just because an Alpha and an Omega pair up doesn’t mean it’ll work out. Isn’t everyone saying your brother wants to divorce my cousin?”

That struck a nerve. Rong Qingshan’s eyes widened, and he lowered his voice. “What nonsense are you talking about? They’re doing just fine.”

“Still, it’s true they haven’t had kids. My cousin’s already twenty-nine, and she’s had two miscarriages. Didn’t she go to District Three recently to ask the Tong family for help? She’s finally pregnant again now—but if this one doesn’t work out either… once an Omega passes thirty, it’s harder to conceive. So, by your logic, don’t tell me your family doesn’t have opinions on this.”

In the First Military Region, leadership was split between the Commander and the Political Commissar. Zhu Sui’s grandfather was the Commander; Rong Qingshan’s grandfather was the Political Commissar.

The Rong family had three children in his generation, but only Rong Mo and Rong Qingshan were Alphas.

The Rong and Zhu families had always been close. Zhu Sui’s cousin, Zhu Yi, was an A-grade Omega. When she married Rong Mo, both families had been thrilled. But in recent years, the plummeting birth rate and the rise in pheromone-induced miscarriages had changed everything.

Despite her high level, Zhu Yi had lost both pregnancies due to pheromone instability.

Once could be called an accident. Twice… meant something was wrong.

She had gone to the Tong family for help out of sheer desperation. Now that she was pregnant again… if it failed…

Zhu Sui furrowed her brow. “If this one doesn’t make it…”

“Don’t jinx it!” Rong Qingshan cut in, horrified. “That’s just gossip. Don’t repeat it. My nephew—or niece—is going to be born safe and sound.”

“And what if they’re not?” Zhu Sui asked, unfazed.

“If—if…” Rong Qingshan stammered, then glared, “Then the Rong family still has me, doesn’t it?”

If Rong Mo couldn’t produce an heir, Rong Qingshan could.

“…”

That was… certainly a blunt answer. Zhu Sui had no comeback.

But it only confirmed her point. “So, in the end, it all comes down to children.”

After a moment, her voice softened. “But if it’s someone I truly love… I wouldn’t want her to go through that kind of pain again and again, just for a child.”

“You’re just saying that because you haven’t experienced it—”

Before he could finish, Zhu Sui suddenly tugged his sleeve.

“What? Am I wrong? You’re just—”

She ignored him and shouted toward someone behind him, “Brother-in-law! Cousin!”

Rong Qingshan froze.

“Hey, Zhu Sui, Qingshan,” came a familiar voice.

Yup. That was his brother.

Moments later, Rong Qingshan turned around stiffly. “Haha… Brother, Sister-in-law. What a coincidence. Good morning!”

Zhu Sui watched as Rong Mo and Zhu Yi approached. From their demeanor, it was clear they hadn’t heard their earlier conversation.

As mentioned, Zhu Yi was pregnant again and had just returned from an evaluation in District Three. She looked pale and tired, supported by Rong Mo. Still, she smiled when she saw them. “Qingshan, Zhu Sui.”

It was the first time Zhu Yi had seen Zhu Sui since her return. She studied her for a while, eyes misting over. “You’ve grown up… You’re looking more and more like Zhunian.”

Zhu Yi had always been gentle and elegant. Zhu Sui had liked her ever since she was a child.

She smiled and let her cousin examine her. “I heard the good news. Haven’t had a chance to congratulate you yet.”

Zhu Yi’s expression dimmed. “Nothing to celebrate yet—we’re not even past the first trimester.”

The risk of miscarriage due to pheromone imbalance was highest in the first three months.

Rong Mo said, “Soon. We’re almost there.”

Zhu Yi smiled at her husband’s reassurance, but before she could respond, she suddenly doubled over in nausea.

Rong Mo had only taken her out for some air. Seeing her react again, he quickly led her away. Zhu Sui watched them go, her expression unreadable.

Afterward, she and Rong Qingshan went inside to greet the birthday celebrant and deliver their gift.

Suddenly, Zhu Sui sniffed the air and asked uncertainly, “Qingshan… do you smell citrus?”

________________________________________

Song Zhen only realized it was a party when she got to the door. Helpless, she called Zuo Tian.

Zuo Tian: “Yes, the Omega’s from the Fifth Military Region. Came all this way just for the party. If you don’t get the sample today, you’ll have to go there next time.”

Great—cross-region work. She had no choice but to push through.

She returned to her car to grab a mask, confirmed the sample target’s location, and stepped inside.

Even from outside, the scent overload was intense. Once inside, she realized—there were almost no Betas here. Every five steps, an Alpha. Every ten, an Omega.

By the time she reached the target, Song Zhen was sure: if not for the mask, she might not have made it through alive.

Unwell already, she needed to work fast.

She found a quiet corner with the Omega, turned on her device, and began collecting the sample…

…

By the time she finished, she was at her limit. She gave the necessary instructions, grabbed her case, and left in a hurry.

As she exited, the Omega sniffed and muttered, “Huh? Did I just smell citrus?”

Meanwhile, Song Zhen hadn’t gone far before she felt something wrong—her glands were burning.

Her body had already been off, but the sudden heat behind her neck panicked her. She’d taken her suppressant before going out… but what if it wasn’t working?

That terrifying thought made her abandon all caution. Covering her neck, she ducked her head and bolted for the exit.

In her panic, she took a wrong turn. Just as she turned back, a voice called out—

“Miss, excuse me—are you… an Omega?”

Was that a death sentence? No way she’d answer that.

Song Zhen sped up.

Seeing this, the person behind her gave chase.

Uncomfortable and increasingly alarmed, Song Zhen’s heart pounded.

“Miss, wait—”

“Please don’t run so fast—”

The voice got closer and closer.

In her desperation, she crashed—hard—into someone.

Pain shot through her. But before she could recover, a hand gripped her shoulder—

Her heart dropped.

She was done for.

Then, a familiar voice whispered in her ear. “Don’t speak.”

Startled, Song Zhen felt a coat suddenly draped over her. A long arm reached through the fabric and pressed gently against the back of her neck, pulling her into a firm embrace.

She couldn’t see the face—but she recognized the scent.

That faint, cool fragrance perfectly blended into the air.

“Miss, you—uh, Second Miss Zhu?”

The voice that had been chasing her stopped, clearly recognizing Zhu Sui.

Zhu Sui chuckled lightly, “Well, if it isn’t Young Master Chen. What a coincidence~”

Seeing their posture, Chen stammered, “She’s… your friend? An Omega—”

“She’s a Beta,” Zhu Sui replied calmly. “Why, is there a problem?”

Chen paused, sniffed, then mumbled, “Huh, no scent. Maybe I got the wrong person…”

Zhu Sui raised an eyebrow, and Chen quickly made his decision—claimed he’d made a mistake and turned to leave.

Once he was gone, Song Zhen, soaked in sweat, finally exhaled.

She was about to lift her head, but the hand on her neck didn’t budge.

“Don’t move.”

Only then did she fully realize—she was still in Zhu Sui’s arms. Their position… far too intimate.

“You’ve just differentiated, and you come to a place crawling with AOs? You’ve got some nerve…”

Then, still holding her, Zhu Sui’s chin rested lightly on Song Zhen’s shoulder.

Song Zhen could feel her exhale softly near her gland—and her face went up in flames.

“I’m guessing… you need my help now, don’t you?”

Her breath brushed across Song Zhen’s nape, making her skin tingle.

Then, as Zhu Sui lifted her head slightly, her breath brushed against her ear. Her voice lowered into a teasing whisper:

“Tell me… am I right, sweetheart?”

Those last words, spoken in a tone laced with mischief, made Song Zhen shiver all over.