A Scummy Alpha and An Award-Winning Omega Actress Fell in Love After an Arranged Marriage - Chapter 36

Lu Xueyin abruptly halted in her tracks.

She didn’t run out of the restroom, but she also refused to follow Sheng Lan into a stall.

Sheng Lan simply walked to the innermost stall, retrieved a “Cleaning in Progress” sign, and under Lu Xueyin’s slightly stunned gaze placed it outside the restroom door.

Then she locked the door from the inside.

Turning back, she said to Lu Xueyin, “So, Sister prefers a bigger space, huh?”

Lu Xueyin didn’t prefer anything!

Just the thought of Sheng Lan’s earlier words “I’ll only use my eyes” made a certain spot on her chest burn with heat.

That delicate area, already reddened from excessive scrubbing, bruised and raw, now prickled with an unbearable itch.

It was as if the black fabric of her clothes had absorbed all the sunlight’s warmth, concentrating it into a single scorching point.

Sheng Lan hadn’t even touched her yet, and Lu Xueyin already felt utterly defeated.

By the time Sheng Lan stepped beside her, every hair on Lu Xueyin’s body stood on end.

Mimicking Lu Xueyin’s usual mannerisms, Sheng Lan deliberately brushed her arm against Lu Xueyin’s as she walked past her toward the sink.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she casually grabbed a paper towel and began wiping down the counter.

Lu Xueyin refused to look at her.

Standing frozen in place made her feel foolish, but at the same time, she clung to the pose like a protective shell proof that she wasn’t the least bit afraid of Sheng Lan.

The faint rustling sounds behind her sent shivers down her spine.

Because she could guess what Sheng Lan was doing, the drawn-out anticipation was torture.

She didn’t even realize that, while wiping the counter, Sheng Lan had been watching her intently through the mirror.

The loose-fitting jeans and high-necked black T-shirt offered little in terms of allure, just a slender, tall silhouette.

But Lu Xueyin’s usual style leaned toward mature and sensual.

Seeing her bundled up like this only deepened Sheng Lan’s curiosity.

Not wanting Lu Xueyin to grow impatient from the prolonged tension, Sheng Lan quickly wiped a clean spot on the counter before lifting Lu Xueyin onto it with the same domineering move she’d used last time.

This sink was wider and taller than the vanity in the dressing room.

With her hands braced on either side of Lu Xueyin’s thighs, Sheng Lan caged her in completely.

“Sister, do you know what I need to check?”

Outmatched in both strength and shamelessness, Lu Xueyin wisely chose compliance. She pressed her lips together and nodded, her eyes betraying a hint of grievance.

Sheng Lan could tell, this was grievance, not humiliation.

Her brow arched slightly, and her voice softened.

“Lift your shirt for me. Let me see.”

What kind of person would make such a demand?

Lu Xueyin stubbornly stayed silent, turning her face away in resigned submission.

Her expression was cold, her demeanor icy, only her eyes spoke volumes, the layers of heat inside her melting the frost she’d tried so hard to maintain. Ice turned to water, misting her gaze, making her look utterly vulnerable.

Sheng Lan leaned in, stopping just short of kissing her.

“Or should I do it myself?”

If she had to act, today wouldn’t end with just looking.

Lu Xueyin gripped the edges of the sink, her fingers tense. The mere thought of lifting her own shirt to expose her chest to Sheng Lan made her want to flee.

She regretted not running out earlier.

If Sheng Lan wanted to bite her, she should’ve waited for a better opportunity.

Once they returned to the manor and entered the Trial Love livestream, Sheng Lan would have to behave.

Given enough time, she might even forget about this.

But now?

There was no room for negotiation.

The moisture in her eyes pooled until it threatened to spill over.

Sheng Lan watched her cry and called out to her, “I haven’t bullied you yet, have I?”

Lu Xueyin raised her hand to wipe her eyes.

Her demeanor was adorably haughty, her face like that of an ice queen, a few teardrops couldn’t shake her aura.

Sheng Lan moved her hand slightly.

She wanted to wipe away Lu Xueyin’s tears, but the latter was clearly startled by the gesture. Leaning back, she made her choice.

“I’ll do it myself.”

So Sheng Lan kept her promise and didn’t touch her.

The collar was tight, so she could only lift the hem of her clothes from the bottom up.

She wasn’t inexperienced.

In this era, it was hard not to be exposed to such things, bikini-clad beauties were everywhere, and she herself preferred cropped tops that showed off her waist.

But perhaps the more tightly wrapped something was, the more seductive it became when unwrapped.

That sliver of white at her waist darkened Sheng Lan’s gaze.

Lu Xueyin’s emotions were turbulent, her pheromones surging, releasing a layer of ambiguous sweetness.

She was like a little rose, exuding charm, inviting someone to pluck her.

As she reached the area near her bra, she paused briefly. Adopting a “better a short pain than a long one” mindset, she lifted it all at once.

Lu Xueyin’s skin was fair and delicate even the straps of her nightgown could leave faint red marks. She hadn’t held back when handling herself earlier, leaving broken skin and bruises.

The white lace edges clung tightly, looking strikingly out of place.

Lu Xueyin counted silently one, two, three then immediately pulled her clothes back down.

In those three seconds, her emotions shifted from shame to anger. The look she gave Sheng Lan finally carried a chill, no longer that “playing hard to get” vibe.

Sheng Lan asked her, “Do you still hate me that much?”

Lu Xueyin froze.

Realizing how those bruises and fingerprints had gotten there, she instantly understood Sheng Lan’s meaning.

She should explain after all, she still needed Sheng Lan to cooperate with her and keep up their fake marriage for a while longer.

But the timing and setting were wrong. She feared that denying or explaining might trigger the Alpha’s possessive, domineering instincts, trapping them in the bathroom all day. So she hesitated and stayed silent.

No words, no denial, no nod either.

Sheng Lan withdrew her hand from the sink and took two steps back.

“Do you need me to carry you down?”

Lu Xueyin climbed down herself.

Unsure whether her attitude had hurt Sheng Lan, she wasn’t ready to explain now. Lowering her eyes, she said, “Let’s go back then.”

The test results had already been sent to Meng Chan’s office, ready for them to collect.

The residual Inducer in Lu Xueyin’s system was minimal. The medication she was taking could continue to reduce it, she was now down to one pill every three days, requiring an alarm reminder or she’d forget.

All other data fell within normal ranges. Her body was in a weakened state, partly due to the Inducer’s effects and partly because Lu Xueyin had been working nonstop without proper rest, triggering her body’s protective mechanisms.

This checkup had another matter to discuss.

After giving Lu Xueyin that injection at the show last time, Meng Chan with Lu Xueyin’s permission had accessed her medical records.

The key point was: “You’ve used too many harsh, low-quality Inhibitors in the past, which have caused some physical damage. Normally, the onset period shouldn’t occur until after age 30, but this Inducer triggered it early, bringing on the complications together.”

Previous tests had been affected by the high concentration of Inducer and Lu Xueyin’s proximity to her heat cycle, making her pheromones unstable and skewing the results.

This time, with the original medical records and Lu Xueyin in good health, the accuracy was higher.

She said, “Only mild spray Inhibitors can be used. Ideally, an Alpha’s Marking would help her through the heat cycle.”

Lu Xueyin silently glanced at Sheng Lan.

Sheng Lan, thick-skinned, directly told Meng Chan, “Oh, I’m a fake Alpha. I can’t do it. I don’t know how to Mark.”

Meng Chan: “…”

She picked up her pen, considering writing Sheng Lan a checkup order.

Sheng Lan: “Just prescribe me some medicine.”

As she spoke, Sheng Lan glanced sideways at Lu Xueyin, hinting, “The medicine from last time worked pretty well.”

Lu Xueyin couldn’t bear to listen any longer and excused herself, saying she’d wait outside to give her privacy.

When Sheng Lan asked Meng Chan for medicine again, she was much more serious. “Do you have anything for external injuries? Bruises, broken skin.”

Meng Chan was a dedicated doctor. She had to ask where the injuries were.

Sheng Lan: “On the chest.”

Meng Chan: ?

Never mind.

If someone’s incapable, they at least need a dream.

She suspected Sheng Lan got those injuries when Lu Xueyin kicked her off the bed.

The last time Lu Xueyin was prescribed medicine was before the show started filming.

Sheng Lan had chatted with Meng Chan afterward and met once, but they hadn’t had time for a proper talk.

This time, Sheng Lan admitted it herself. If she claimed she was just saying it for Lu Xueyin to hear, Meng Chan would just respond with a perfunctory, “Uh-huh.”

“I know, you’re very capable.”

Sheng Lan rolled her eyes ungracefully and picked up the question from before leaving the office. “You’re asking if it’s fake dating turned real, right?”

“Let me be blunt. Meng Qing doesn’t like Ji Xinlan. Most likely, while my sister and I were away these past few days, the show forced them into a lot of interactions for the sake of ratings. Neither of them wanted it, resisted each other, but since the audience loved it, they kept up the fake act.”

Meng Chan sighed in relief.

Only to be abruptly strung along again by Sheng Lan’s “But—”

She said teasingly, “Unlike them, my sister and I turned fake into real.”

As a doctor, Meng Chan was logical.

She and Sheng Lan worked through a reasoning problem.

Given that they had a flash marriage and were legally wedded, calling it “fake dating turned real” made no sense.

Only turning real into fake was possible, so their on-screen chemistry must have been fake all along.

Because of this, Sheng Lan left her office in a foul mood.

Lu Xueyin didn’t provoke her and obediently followed Sheng Lan to the pharmacy on the first floor to pick up the medicine, only to be scolded by Sheng Lan for being “heartless.” “Aren’t you going to comfort me?”

Lu Xueyin frowned.

She didn’t understand how their relationship had come to this.

Clearly, she was the one who suffered more today, but Sheng Lan made it seem like she was the bully.

She didn’t know how to comfort her.

Sheng Lan said, “Take me out to eat.”

Lu Xueyin looked at her. “What do you want to eat?”

Sheng Lan sounded quite serious. “Rabbit.”

There were many ways to prepare rabbit. After getting in the car, Lu Xueyin earnestly browsed restaurants, listing dishes one by one, only for Sheng Lan to reject them all.

She lost patience. “Are you eating or not?”

As the car entered the garage, Sheng Lan didn’t want this “rabbit” Lu Xueyin to escape. She suggested checking what was in the fridge at home and having a good meal before heading back to the show.

Lu Xueyin had been busy with work these days and at most made noodles at home. Unsure what was missing, she followed Sheng Lan upstairs.

This time, she was more alert. Only after Sheng Lan entered, changed shoes, and headed to the kitchen did Lu Xueyin slowly follow her inside.

While Sheng Lan checked the fridge, she told Lu Xueyin to put away the medicine herself.

Inside were the medications she had to take daily. During filming, Lu Xueyin needed to disguise them in vitamin bottles.

Aside from those, there were also the pills that could make Sheng Lan perk up.

She felt they were too hot to handle and avoided touching them.

The remaining two small tubes of ointment made her pause.

Seeing that Sheng Lan was still in the kitchen, she picked them up for a quick glance, her face flushing instantly. She put them back nonchalantly, pretending they weren’t topical ointments meant for her.

Staying in the living room, the longer she looked at Sheng Lan, the tenser her body became.

She felt like the “rabbit” Sheng Lan mentioned might actually be her.

And “eating the rabbit” wasn’t exactly a wholesome metaphor either.

There was no way to ask directly.

The waiting was agonizing, so she could only rely on the pills meant to boost an Alpha to calm her nerves.

Every time Lu Xueyin glanced at Sheng Lan, she’d sneak a look at that box of medicine specifically for fake Alphas who couldn’t perform.

Sheng Lan’s teeth itched she really wanted to bite something.

Outside, Lu Xueyin had already made the decision for her. Rather than waiting passively, she’d order takeout herself.

She’d send Sheng Lan a different rabbit to eat, hoping she’d take the hint and not set her sights on her.

QwQ I’ve made peace with myself, just treat my words as nonsense (x)

But Dashan does eat rabbits that part’s real.

Like a salted fish flopped over needs a sprinkle of salt to get up again.jpg

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