Omega, Always Wants to Mark Me - Chapter 22

“What did she say?” Ming Xiaoyue asked instinctively.

“She asked if my pheromones smelled like citrus,” Lu Jinxi replied, secretly relieved.

Thankfully, at the time, Lu Jinxi had found the question odd and, knowing that pheromones were a deeply personal topic for both Omegas and Alphas, had vaguely deflected the conversation.

It wasn’t until Song Wanwen’s recent remarks that Lu Jinxi belatedly realized Wu Yingyun had been testing her. That’s why she had deviated from their planned course, directly rejecting Wu Yingyun and taking full responsibility.

In truth, these words were half-truths. They stemmed from the aftermath of Ming Xiaoyue’s sudden and unexpected death in their previous life, when Wu Yingyun had somehow offended a powerful figure in the industry.

As a result, many of her secrets were exposed, including the underhanded things she had done to Ming Xiaoyue behind the scenes, which netizens unearthed.

A wave of sorrow washed over Lu Jinxi. She had never imagined that her efforts to help Ming Xiaoyue would ultimately become the blades Wu Yingyun used to stab her when she was down.

It began with Ming Xiaoyue’s failed debut, which left her burdened with criticism. Forced to pivot to the film and television industry, Lu Jinxi pulled every string she could to secure Xiaoyue a second female lead role. After all, her family’s business was primarily in real estate.

Venturing into a new industry felt like scaling a mountain. It was Lu Jinxi’s first attempt to pave a path with money, hoping to give Xiaoyue a leg up. She never imagined Wu Yingyun would dare to resort to such underhanded tactics behind the scenes.

Just as netizens had asked back then: “Is it better for redemption to have appeared at all, or for it to have never existed?”

Wu Yingyun had given Ming Xiaoyue hope, only to lift her up high and then crush her.

Lu Jinxi’s heart ached, knowing she was the true culprit behind it all.

Today, Lu Jinxi was gambling, betting that Wu Yingyun would lose her composure. As expected, she did.

“So, her withdrawal is the best outcome,” a cold, emotionless voice echoed from above. Ming Xiaoyue’s heart clenched. Is Lu Jinxi no longer even bothering to pretend in front of me?

In her previous life, as she struggled desperately in the mud, had Lu Jinxi been like this too? Expressionless, her tone utterly flat, devoid of remorse—perhaps she had never even seen Xiaoyue as anything more than a pawn…

Ming Xiaoyue couldn’t understand what was happening to her. She had repeatedly told herself to let go of the past, that Lu Jinxi had genuinely helped her countless times, both openly and covertly, and had even indirectly saved her life.

Yet, seeing Lu Jinxi maintain her composed, rational facade, she couldn’t resist the urge to tear through her carefully constructed mask.

“Lu Jinxi,” Ming Xiaoyue’s voice rasped from deep within her throat.

“Hmm,” Lu Jinxi replied, her voice low and steady.

“So, Wu Yingyun was just a stepping stone? Were you afraid her actions would harm me? Or were you more concerned about her affecting the team’s performance—and ultimately, your overall score?!”

Lu Jinxi caught the underlying accusation in her words. Her brow furrowed as she countered, “What are you implying?”

“I think there’s some truth in what Wu Yingyun said. Lu Jinxi, you were acting in your own self-interest, weren’t you? And now you want to use me as a fig leaf and expect me to be eternally grateful?!”

As Ming Xiaoyue spoke, her fingers pressed firmly against Lu Jinxi’s broad shoulder, jabbing forcefully.

Lu Jinxi involuntarily retreated, while Ming Xiaoyue pressed forward relentlessly, giving her no chance to speak.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?” Ming Xiaoyue continued, cornering Lu Jinxi until she had nowhere left to retreat. Then, she coldly lashed out, “Lu Jinxi, stop pretending to be so devoted in front of me. I know it’s all an act. I didn’t expose you before because I thought you had some self-awareness.

I’ve said everything I should have and shouldn’t have. Why do you still insist on provoking me? Hmm?”

“I haven’t,” Lu Jinxi murmured, her face darkening despite her usual tolerance for Ming Xiaoyue. The sharp, piercing words had struck her deeply.

“Is that so?” Ming Xiaoyue pressed closer, her tone now interrogative. “Can you honestly swear there wasn’t a shred of self-interest in this?”

“I swear, in this matter…” Lu Jinxi, with a clear conscience, began to swear an oath.

But Ming Xiaoyue cut her off immediately. “Stop hiding behind your so-called ‘love’ for me, Lu Jinxi. Do you even realize that when you hate someone to the core, the ‘love’ they claim is the cheapest, most disgusting thing in the world?!”

After Ming Xiaoyue’s furious outburst, her final three words struck Lu Jinxi with disbelief, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

“Why that expression again? Hmm? Lu Jinxi, you didn’t actually think that after all this, I’d fall in love with you like those love-struck Omegas, did you? No. I just find you hypocritical, disgusting, and utterly unscrupulous.”

Lu Jinxi felt her breath catch in her throat. She turned her face away, trying to hide her humiliation. In the sudden silence, only her barely suppressed, trembling breaths could be heard.

Seeing Lu Jinxi in this state, Ming Xiaoyue’s brow furrowed slightly. Her fierce demeanor vanished, replaced by a flicker of regret in her eyes. She opened her mouth several times, but no words came out.

The two women stood in silent confrontation for an unknown length of time. Finally, Lu Jinxi’s muffled voice broke the stillness: “Mm, I’m sorry. I never realized I’d caused you so much trouble these past few weeks. It won’t happen again. I apologize.”

Ming Xiaoyue stared at the sharp line of Lu Jinxi’s jaw. Her hands clenched at her sides, but the apology stuck in her throat, unable to escape as easily as Lu Jinxi’s.

She only felt overwhelming remorse, realizing she had unfairly dragged Lu Jinxi into this mess. In her previous life, Wu Yingyun’s manipulations and betrayals had left her convinced she would find closure.

And the root of all this suffering… Thinking of this, Ming Xiaoyue glanced at Lu Jinxi, feeling utterly exhausted. Her tightly clenched hand relaxed at her side. Forget it. Let it be.

This might be the best outcome after all.

Ming Xiaoyue had barely taken a step back when Lu Jinxi moved past her, giving a slight nod. “If there’s nothing else, goodbye.”

With that, Lu Jinxi strode away. Ming Xiaoyue turned to watch the closing door gradually block out the light from outside, plunging her world back into darkness.

When Lu Jinxi returned to the lounge, Song Wanwen immediately rushed over, trying to reason with her. “A Jin, why don’t you try persuading Wu Yingyun? She’s really going to quit. Then…”

As she spoke, Song Wanwen leaned closer, but before she could get near Lu Jinxi, she felt the oppressive aura unique to Alphas. Startled, she looked up at the woman before her.

Only then did she realize that Lu Jinxi seemed different from usual.

“Where is she?!” Lu Jinxi demanded coldly.

Song Wanwen pointed to the half-open lounge door.

Lu Jinxi stepped forward to enter, but before leaving, she pulled out an isolation spray from her bag and sprayed it liberally. Turning to Song Wanwen, she said, “Sorry, my emotions were unstable just now.”

“I-I’m fine,” Song Wanwen stammered, feeling overwhelmed by Lu Jinxi’s sudden intensity. She was almost afraid to approach her.

Yet, just before leaving, Lu Jinxi promised, “I’ll handle everything else. Don’t worry.”

Watching her retreating figure, Song Wanwen inexplicably felt that Lu Jinxi truly could resolve this.

Inside the resting room, Lu Jinxi closed the door behind her. Wu Yingyun, lying on the hospital bed, brightened at the sight of Lu Jinxi and called out, “A Jin.”

Lu Jinxi didn’t respond, stopping several steps away. In that moment, she finally understood Ming Xiaoyue’s words.

Being bound by someone you despise, under the guise of love, truly feels repulsive.

The thought of Xiaoyue darkened Lu Jinxi’s eyes.

“You’re finally here! Why don’t you just mark me already? That way, my heat won’t affect everyone else.”

“Wu Yingyun,” Lu Jinxi said, her voice low and heavy, like a death-summoning ghost from the underworld.

Wu Yingyun’s smile crumbled. The woman before her continued, “It’s good you’re leaving. After all, you were never fit to debut.”

“What do you mean?!” Wu Yingyun snapped, her expression shifting with textbook-perfect precision.

“I mean that someone like you—a backstabbing teammate, a despicable schemer who constantly resorts to petty tricks—doesn’t deserve to be in our group. You don’t deserve to continue filming.”

Lu Jinxi tore away all pretense. She had intended to give Wu Yingyun a graceful exit, offering her a chance to leave with dignity. But Wu Yingyun stubbornly refused to let go.

“How dare you say such things about me!” Wu Yingyun snapped, her voice rising in panic.

“You didn’t think your little schemes behind the cameras would go unnoticed just because you avoided the lenses, did you? Wu Yingyun, let me give you some advice: if you don’t want people to know, then don’t do it!”

For a moment, Lu Jinxi saw her own reflection in Wu Yingyun’s eyes. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides. Every time Ming Xiaoyue had spoken hurtful words, Lu Jinxi had never dared to meet her gaze directly. Could Wu Yingyun be suffering the same pain?

Her throat felt bitter, as if a piece of bitter melon were lodged there.

“You… no… how could you?” Wu Yingyun stammered, her composure crumbling.

“No, it can’t be true! How is that possible?”

“Late last month, at night, you claimed you’d left something in the practice room. What were you really doing there? You know the truth in your heart! The cameras might have been turned off for the night, but one remained active in sleep mode. Do I need to spell it out for you?”

In truth, this was only half true. There was indeed a camera recording, but it was in sleep mode, capturing blurry footage. This footage, which had been leaked during the previous timeline when Wu Yingyun was publicly condemned, showed a figure being attacked by a group. It couldn’t definitively prove that the person in the footage was Wu Yingyun.

But Wu Yingyun’s guilty conscience betrayed her.

“How could that be? I… I was just retrieving what belonged to me that day! Yes, I did nothing wrong!”

“Ha! At the last competition, Ming Xiaoyue earned the lead role through her own merit. What makes you think it was yours to begin with?”

“No! It’s because you all showed favoritism! Yes, you! Why did you vote for Ming Xiaoyue for the lead role? I was clearly more suited for it!”

“That still doesn’t justify you tampering with Ming Xiaoyue’s performance costume!” Lu Jinxi said, seizing the opportunity to provoke Wu Yingyun, who had already lost her composure.

“She deserved it! Why should she always be above me at school? And now on the show too! Yes! I ruined her costume! So what?!”

Hearing Wu Yingyun’s confession firsthand, Lu Jinxi clenched her fists tightly at her sides, taking deep breaths to suppress the urge to punch her.

“Alright, I’ll report this to the show’s production team. Goodbye!” Lu Jinxi said, turning to leave.

But Wu Yingyun seemed unwilling to let the matter end there.

“What about you?!” Wu Yingyun sneered, her face twisted into a sinister smile. “Dare you claim nothing happened between you and Ming Xiaoyue? She’s covered in Alpha pheromones!”