Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 8

When Zhu Sui first caught the scent in the hall, she was only puzzled. But as it grew increasingly faint yet distinct, her brows furrowed—her immediate reaction was anger.

Too reckless.

Coming to a gathering filled entirely with Alphas and Omegas at a time like this…

Was Song Zhen not taking herself seriously?

Newly differentiated high-level Omegas were incredibly vulnerable.

Despite the anger, the temporary mark between them meant Zhu Sui could instantly sense Song Zhen’s presence. The burden once again fell on her shoulders.

Especially with so many AOs present tonight—she couldn’t simply walk away.

She gave Rong Qingshan a quick heads-up and began following the scent.

First, she went to the garden and found the person Song Zhen had sampled. After learning that Song Zhen had already left, she rushed after her… and caught up just in time to see the panicked woman crash right into her arms.

Even with such brief contact, that citrusy scent was already overpowering in Zhu Sui’s senses.

—

“I guessed right, didn’t I, jiejie?”

Her voice was playful, but out of Song Zhen’s view, Zhu Sui’s face showed no trace of a smile—only a shadowed, brooding expression.

She felt the soft body in her arms tremble.

With deliberate malice, Zhu Sui exhaled a soft puff of air against Song Zhen’s scent gland.

The woman flinched again, her fingers tightening on Zhu Sui’s clothing.

Just as Zhu Sui was enjoying the reaction, curious to see how Song Zhen would respond, the woman suddenly raised her head and placed a hand over her own scent gland. Her cheeks were flushed crimson, but her voice, despite its softness, was laced with forced composure:

“If you stop teasing me, I’ll be even more grateful for your help.”

Though gentle, her tone was firm, her eyes glistening but resolute. There was even a trace of a quiet admonition in her look.

Huh. She had principles.

Zhu Sui paused, watching as Song Zhen’s symptoms worsened and her voice grew weaker. “I took an inhibitor before coming out… I don’t know why it didn’t work…”

Zhu Sui’s initial irritation vanished the moment Song Zhen lifted her head. Not because of her forced composure, but because…

Zhu Sui gently brushed a fingertip beneath her eye and sighed. “What did you do to yourself? How many nights have you gone without sleep?”

Only then did Song Zhen realize Zhu Sui was touching the dark circles under her eyes.

“I…”

“Hmm?”

Zhu Sui’s eyes narrowed coldly. Just one look and Song Zhen knew—she couldn’t lie to this woman. She wasn’t good at it, and Zhu Sui was frighteningly good at seeing through deception.

Eventually, Song Zhen just turned her head away.

Some things didn’t need to be said aloud. Adults carried their burdens in silence.

Sure enough, Zhu Sui studied her quietly for a moment, then finally released her.

Just as the awkward embrace ended and Song Zhen took a step back, Zhu Sui’s hand landed again on her shoulder.

This time, Zhu Sui got straight to the point. “Two options. One, I carry you to the guest room while masking your scent. Two, I suppress your gland right here, then take you to the room.”

Option one meant being cradled through a crowd—submissively nestled in her arms the entire way.

Option two wasn’t much better. She would…

Faced with a choice between social death and personal mortification, Song Zhen chose quickly.

Without a word, she stepped forward, brushed her hair aside, and rested her forehead against Zhu Sui’s shoulder. “Two.”

“You sure?” Zhu Sui asked, surprised.

Song Zhen didn’t reply, just closed her eyes and brushed her hair further away.

The silent urgency wasn’t lost on Zhu Sui.

She rested a hand on Song Zhen’s shoulder again, and as her breath swept over the exposed gland, Song Zhen shivered—it was a visceral, Omega instinct.

“Relax. Don’t be scared, jiejie.”

Still speaking against her ear, Zhu Sui’s tone remained firm, yet unusually tender.

Somehow, Song Zhen did what she said, as if under a spell.

The next second, Zhu Sui lowered her head. Her tongue brushed across the gland. The sensation ripped up Song Zhen’s spine like lightning. She nearly collapsed against Zhu Sui, breathing in shallow gasps, a sound escaping her throat uncontrollably.

Her mind blanked. She bit her lip hard, struggling for control.

While she waited for the scent to be suppressed, Zhu Sui gently rubbed her back and supported her waist, her movements thoughtful and measured—offering stability through the overwhelming sensation.

That strange sense of a role reversal returned.

Wasn’t Zhu Sui younger than her?

Why did she always feel like the one being taken care of?

—

Ten minutes later, in the guest room of the Fan estate, Zhu Sui closed the windows and activated the air purifier.

After settling Song Zhen on the couch, she stepped out briefly and returned with two glasses of juice.

“Grape or orange?”

“Grape.”

Zhu Sui handed her the cool green juice. “Freshly pressed. Helps replenish fluids and sugar.”

“…Thank you.”

Zhu Sui smirked. “Getting a ‘thank you’ out of you takes quite a bit of effort.”

Song Zhen didn’t reply. Her cheeks were still flushed. With her gland still masked by Zhu Sui’s pheromones, she exuded a strange, sultry charm.

Zhu Sui could smell the sweetness in the air.

“You’re awfully calm today,” Song Zhen observed. “Shouldn’t marking affect both parties?”

Zhu Sui pulled out a small box from her bag and waved it.

“Inhibitor?”

“Mm. Specially formulated. My unit issued it on day one. Never needed it on missions—turns out, I needed it for you.” She flipped the box. “Any later, it would’ve expired.”

Song Zhen’s gaze flickered. “It’s tailored to your pheromones?”

“Correct.”

Something clicked in Song Zhen’s mind. “So, all S-class AO inhibitors are custom-made?”

“You’re quick,” Zhu Sui admitted. “Yes, all S-class A inhibitors in my unit are custom-formulated. I looked up S-class O too. Same case.”

Song Zhen shut her eyes, resigned. “No wonder… So, the inhibitor I brought is useless.”

Zhu Sui glanced at her badge: “Senior Researcher – Military Medical Academy.”

After a while, Zhu Sui asked, “So what’s your plan? The temporary mark is failing. If you want the tailored inhibitor, it’ll take me a while to get it…”

“No need.”

Zhu Sui raised a brow. “No need?”

Song Zhen had already thought it through. “I was marked right after differentiating. That prolongs my susceptibility phase. Custom inhibitors are more than rare—they’re individualized. Even if you got one now, it might not work.”

Zhu Sui chuckled. “That sounded professional.”

Not denying it meant it was true.

Song Zhen exhaled slowly. “So… please mark me again. Once the mark stabilizes, I can leave without incident.”

But Zhu Sui noticed something in her tone. “What else are you trying to say?”

Song Zhen closed her eyes. “I’m about to divorce my partner. She’s an Alpha, and to avoid complications, I’m not going to tell her I’ve differentiated. So… regardless of inhibitors, I need your mark.”

“Logical, but there’s one flaw.”

Song Zhen looked up, confused—and flushed. “What flaw?”

“You forgot the most important question: why should I mark you again?”

She spread her hands. “This is the second time I’ve helped you. You—”

Before she could finish, Song Zhen interrupted, “You want something in return?”

Zhu Sui didn’t deny it. “Yes.”

Song Zhen’s mind raced with possibilities. Her lips were pale. “…What is it?”

Zhu Sui raised a brow, amused. “You’re not even going to ask before agreeing?”

“I don’t have much of a choice.”

Her words confirmed that Zhu Sui held all the cards.

Zhu Sui looked at her for a beat—then suddenly burst out laughing.

“Do I seem like a villain to you?”

Song Zhen was bewildered. “No, I… I really am grateful…”

Zhu Sui interrupted, her tone just right—playful but not mocking. “Then why treat me like one? Can’t we just be friends?”

That truly stumped Song Zhen.

Zhu Sui took a sip of juice, her chin lifted, prideful as always. “I don’t like helping strangers. But if you’re a friend, I don’t mind at all.”

At that, Song Zhen realized she’d misunderstood everything.

Not only misunderstood—but misjudged Zhu Sui.

They locked eyes. Song Zhen felt the heat rise to her ears.

And Zhu Sui, of course, didn’t let it go. “So, jiejie, is being my friend really that terrifying?”

—

The second time Zhu Sui marked her, Song Zhen was fully conscious.

Once the mark stabilized, Zhu Sui personally drove her back to the Military Medical Academy.

Song Zhen initially wanted to decline, but afraid Zhu Sui would think she was being overly cautious again, she accepted.

She fell asleep in the car, exhausted.

When she woke, they’d arrived. Zhu Sui handed back her keys. “Alright. Go do your work.”

“Wait—let me call a car for you.”

Zhu Sui raised a brow, then nodded.

Since taxis couldn’t enter the campus, Song Zhen walked her to the gate.

While waiting, Zhu Sui said, “I’ll pull some strings to get you the custom inhibitor. Might take two days. I’ll drop it off when I get it.”

Song Zhen hesitated. “That’s… a lot of trouble…”

Reading her mind, Zhu Sui continued, “If it makes you feel better, you can treat me to a meal next time. Fair trade?”

Song Zhen paused, then nodded. “Okay.”

Zhu Sui grinned. “I’m picky though—make sure the place has good reviews.”

Song Zhen thought of something else. “By the way, that jacket from the hotel…”

The one Zhu Sui had placed on her—it had been ruined, and clearly, Zhu Sui didn’t want it back.

“I’ll replace it—”

“No need. That one was a limited edition. Too hard to get again.”

“…But—”

“If you insist, pick another style. I’m not picky.”

“Alright.”

As the car arrived, Zhu Sui opened the door and pointed to her phone. “Since we’re friends now, don’t leave my messages unread again, okay?”

Without waiting for a reply, she got in.

—

Later, after the car was well down the road, Zhu Sui received a friend request on WeChat.

From Song Zhen.

With a simple message: [Okay].

Zhu Sui smiled and accepted.

—

Just like she said, Zhu Sui contacted her two days later.

She texted in the morning to say she’d deliver it in the afternoon, then followed up at noon to say she had some official duties but would still arrive before dinner.

Song Zhen replied with a brief “okay.”

When her phone rang later that afternoon, she assumed it was Zhu Sui.

She answered with a smile, “You’re already here?”

But it wasn’t Zhu Sui.

It was Cheng Lang.

“I’m back in Beijing, Zhenzhen.”

Her smile vanished.

“I want to see you. Talk.”

Song Zhen inhaled deeply, pinched her brow, and said coldly, “The divorce papers are ready. I’ve mailed them to your apartment at the research institute. There’s nothing to discuss. If you agree, just sign and return them.”

There was a pause.

Then she heard the sound of pages turning on the other end—Cheng Lang was reading the papers.

They hung up. Song Zhen felt hollow.

But half an hour later, Cheng Lang called again.

“I’m downstairs. I want to talk.”

A pause.

“If you don’t come home, I’ll go to your lab. Doesn’t matter.”

Song Zhen couldn’t speak.

Finally, she exhaled shakily. “…Fine. Wait there. I’ll come back.”