Omega, Always Wants to Mark Me - Chapter 36

“Mm, it’s fine. Just perform normally,” Lu Jinxi reassured them. “As long as we don’t get eliminated.”

“Mm, okay,” Song Wanwen replied. She knew Lu Jinxi was right. They hadn’t even taken the stage yet, and if they panicked now, they might make mistakes during the performance, giving the Production Team an excuse to quietly remove them from the competition.

“Let’s head back. Staying here won’t help,” Ming Xiaoyue murmured, and the group returned to the waiting room in shifts.

Unexpectedly, the moment Lu Jinxi entered the waiting room, Tang Jinshu approached her as if she had been waiting there on purpose.

“Miss Lu, may I have a word?” Tang Jinshu asked, her expression strained.

Lu Jinxi instinctively glanced at Ming Xiaoyue, who stood stiffly beside her. Ming Xiaoyue merely walked over to Song Wanwen, sat down, and maintained a cold demeanor. Yet, the pheromones in the air betrayed her true feelings.

Lu Jinxi knew Ming Xiaoyue was angry, but the situation was too complex to openly discuss the pros and cons of the Tang Family with her.

Now that Tang Jinshu had come to find her, Lu Jinxi felt a glimmer of hope. She thought she might be able to bring Tang Jinshu over to her side.

So, despite Ming Xiaoyue’s displeased pheromones, Lu Jinxi finally spoke, “Yes, that’s fine. Where would be convenient for you?”

“Let’s go,” Tang Jinshu replied curtly, turning to lead the way without hesitation.

Before leaving, Lu Jinxi couldn’t resist glancing back at Ming Xiaoyue, whose probing gaze met hers.

Their eyes locked briefly, but before Lu Jinxi could convey any message, Ming Xiaoyue turned away without a word, shifting her attention to Xi Ruoqiong, who was sitting behind her.

As Lu Jinxi watched the two women chatting animatedly, a mix of emotions welled up within her.

Lu Jinxi followed Tang Jinshu to an empty control room. As soon as the door closed, the half-drawn curtains blocked out the sunlight, and Tang Jinshu’s Omega pheromones, emanating from the shadows, washed over her.

Reacting swiftly, Lu Jinxi clamped a hand over her nose and pressed down on the suppressant patch at the nape of her neck, immediately retreating to the door. But when she tried to push down the handle, she was shocked to find it locked.

Lu Jinxi frowned, noticing another small room within the larger space. She hurried toward it, but was immediately enveloped by the suffocatingly intense scent of Rosemary Omega pheromones.

Lu Jinxi felt the pheromones in the gland at the back of her neck pulsing restlessly.

Behind her, Tang Jinshu’s footsteps drew closer. The citrus-scented Omega pheromones at the back of Lu Jinxi’s neck sensed the presence of a fellow Omega and began to clash violently.

The pain felt as if her gland were being torn apart. After all, the gland was the most vulnerable part of an Alpha’s body. Even Lu Jinxi, despite her strength, was still mortal. Overwhelmed by the sudden agony, cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and she stumbled to her knees.

“Ugh,” she groaned, instinctively reaching for the throbbing gland at the back of her neck. Her face drained of color, her lips pale and trembling slightly.

The footsteps behind her continued to approach.

“Tang! Jin!…” Lu Jinxi’s voice trailed off as sweat poured down her face. Her vision blurred, and through the haze, she saw a pair of shoes materialize before her.

“Tsk,” a condescending voice sounded from above. Lu Jinxi’s body trembled uncontrollably as Tang Jinshu crouched down beside her.

Tang Jinshu reached out to touch her, but Lu Jinxi, summoning her remaining strength, flinched away.

“Tsk, so you marked Ming Xiaoyue? Hmm?” Tang Jinshu asked coldly.

Lu Jinxi, still dazed, heard Ming Xiaoyue’s name and finally regained clarity. She replied tersely, “No.”

“No? Hmm? But her body carries your pheromone scent. Do you think she’d survive in the entertainment industry if this got out?”

Concerned for Ming Xiaoyue, Lu Jinxi bit her lower lip, forcing herself to focus. She couldn’t understand why Tang Jinshu was targeting Ming Xiaoyue, considering neither of them had much interaction with her.

Stumbling over her words, Lu Jinxi asked, “Why?”

“Hmm?” Tang Jinshu seemed surprised Lu Jinxi was still conscious. A sickly sweet smile spread across her doll-like face, making it all the more unsettling.

“Are you asking about Ming Xiaoyue? Or are you curious why I’m doing this to you?” Tang Jinshu tapped the ground with her finger.

“Tsk, I can’t believe my dad values someone like you so highly. An Alpha as weak and useless as you? Even when pushed to the brink, you won’t fight back?”

As Tang Jinshu spoke, she leaned closer to Lu Jinxi, reaching out to touch the back of her neck.

Before Tang Jinshu’s hand could reach her neck, Lu Jinxi seized it mid-air with a firm grip.

Raising her gaze, Lu Jinxi’s eyes burned with unwavering resolve. Yet within that steadfastness lay an understanding, as if she could see through Tang Jinshu’s composed facade to the helplessness hidden beneath her high position.

“Is this about your father?” Lu Jinxi pressed, her voice sharp. “The man obsessed with you carrying on the family line? Hmm?”

As expected, a flicker of panic flashed across Tang Jinshu’s eyes at Lu Jinxi’s words, though she quickly suppressed it. But Lu Jinxi hadn’t missed that momentary lapse.

“Can we talk properly now?” Lu Jinxi said, using her free hand to retrieve a suppressant patch from her pocket and forcefully press it into Tang Jinshu’s palm.

Tang Jinshu hesitated, as if everything had veered off course. She stared at Lu Jinxi in disbelief, her carefully laid plans crumbling before her eyes.

In her calculations, Lu Jinxi would either lose control and mark her during a pheromone release, or be forced into submission. Either outcome would give Tang Jinshu the excuse she needed to eliminate this son-in-law her father had favored.

But Lu Jinxi brazenly tore off the sweat-soaked suppressant patch from the nape of her neck right in front of her. Tang Jinshu’s gaze snapped to the exposed skin, and the unmistakable bite mark sent a jolt of shock through her.

“You…” Tang Jinshu began, her voice filled with disbelief. But before she could finish, she realized that discussing reverse marking in front of an Alpha—who would undoubtedly care about their reputation—was inappropriate.

“So, can we talk properly now?” Lu Jinxi asked, seemingly unconcerned that Tang Jinshu had seen her condition. After applying a fresh suppressant patch, she repeated her question.

“Hmm,” Tang Jinshu replied, clapping her hands. Unexpectedly, a group of Beta bodyguards emerged from a nearby room. Lu Jinxi hadn’t anticipated that even what she thought was an escape route had been another trap set by Tang Jinshu.

“You may leave,” Tang Jinshu ordered coldly.

The bodyguards nodded respectfully, “Yes, Miss.”

After the door closed, Tang Jinshu tossed Lu Jinxi a bottle of isolation spray. Lu Jinxi immediately sprayed it around them. For a moment, Tang Jinshu was at a loss for words.

Lu Jinxi seized the initiative, speaking first: “I understand your predicament. I can help you resolve it. But don’t touch Ming Xiaoyue.”

When Lu Jinxi uttered Ming Xiaoyue’s name, Tang Jinshu felt, for the first time, the unique oppressive aura of an Alpha.

Some things didn’t need to be explicitly stated. Tang Jinshu knew that Lu Jinxi must have willingly allowed herself to be marked by the Alpha before her.

Since they were now on the same side, Tang Jinshu couldn’t resist defending herself. “I didn’t force Ming Xiaoyue to withdraw from the competition!”

“I know,” Lu Jinxi replied calmly. “I know it was your father. After all, she’s a staunch supporter of Alpha supremacy.”

Indeed, the Tang Family’s enduring dominance in the entertainment industry stemmed not only from their wealth but also from their political influence.

What puzzled Tang Jinshu was, “Why do you know so much about the Tang Family?”

Lu Jinxi’s expression froze momentarily, her heart skipped a beat, and her hand trembled slightly at her side.

“We don’t have much time. Are you sure you want to waste it on this?” Lu Jinxi asked coldly, her gaze lifting to meet Tang Jinshu’s with an undeniable air of authority.

“Fine, you go first,” Tang Jinshu conceded, unable to withstand Lu Jinxi’s pressure. Her thoughts had already been drawn into Lu Jinxi’s orbit.

“Regarding your father, I will firmly refuse his demands, including those concerning Ming Xiaoyue. I can even intervene personally. But I have one condition: you must not harm Ming Xiaoyue.”

“I had no intention of harming her,” Tang Jinshu said truthfully, revealing her genuine feelings. “We’re both Omegas, and I know how difficult it has been to get this far. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have agreed to meet you today.”

“Good,” Lu Jinxi replied. “After the competition ends, could you help me arrange a meeting with your father? I want to have a proper discussion with him. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”

“Of course,” Tang Jinshu said. “Actually, even if you hadn’t asked, my father would have sought you out anyway.”

“Alright,” Lu Jinxi said. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now.” She turned to leave, realizing she had lingered here longer than intended.

But after only a few steps, she stopped abruptly and turned back. “Oh, one more thing,” she said. “I hope you’ll keep our conversation confidential.”

“You mean, don’t tell Ming Xiaoyue?” Tang Jinshu understood her implication.

“Exactly,” Lu Jinxi confirmed. “Given the current elimination rate, the next round could very well determine the final debut lineup.”

“Yes, that’s right. You know, being the first female group variety show, the initial reception wasn’t great. It only gained some traction recently due to the Wu Yingyun incident.

But the Omega controversy has been dragging on without resolution, and my father’s side has also expressed concerns about the show. That’s why the production team suddenly changed the rules,” Tang Jinshu revealed without hesitation.

“Hmm, I see. Then I’ll head back now,” Lu Jinxi replied, showing no surprise. After all, Alphas at the top of the pyramid were accustomed to manipulating the world.

“Okay, you…” Tang Jinshu hesitated, curiosity still lingering. As Lu Jinxi paused and looked back, Tang Jinshu pointed to the nape of her neck.

“Yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking,” Lu Jinxi confirmed, showing no shame about being reverse-marked by an Omega. Her tone was neither arrogant nor humble, but so resolute that Tang Jinshu began to doubt herself.

“We can discuss this in detail later, but I really need to get back now,” Lu Jinxi said politely before leaving.

Tang Jinshu, sensing Lu Jinxi’s urgency, relented. “Alright.”

“See you later,” Lu Jinxi blurted out, already striding out of the room.

When Lu Jinxi returned to the lounge, Song Wanwen and Wen Yifan were gone. Seeing Ming Xiaoyue still at her seat, Lu Jinxi breathed a sigh of relief and sat beside her.

“Where did Song Wanwen and the others go?” Lu Jinxi asked, grasping for conversation. Ming Xiaoyue merely turned her head, casting a cold glance at Lu Jinxi without replying.

A wave of awkwardness washed over Lu Jinxi. She could clearly sense Ming Xiaoyue’s pheromones emitting a signal of rejection. Swallowing nervously, Lu Jinxi fidgeted with her hands on the bench, her fingers tapping restlessly against the edge.

Seeing Xi Ruoqiong appear on the big screen, Lu Jinxi blurted out in desperation, “Xi Ruoqiong seems to be performing well. She should get a good score…” The words hung unfinished in the air.

Ming Xiaoyue cut her off coldly, “There’s no need to force conversation.”

As Ming Xiaoyue spoke, Lu Jinxi caught a glimpse of icy disdain in her eyes.