After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance - Chapter 27

I Will Take the Medicine When Jian Ya heard the doctor say, “It’s very hard to completely cure this with medication alone,” her heart instantly tightened with worry.

But then the second half of the sentence—”There is a better method than medication for a full recovery”—gave her a bit of relief. A spark of hope lit up in her heart.

“What method is that?” she asked.

“Temporary marking,” the doctor replied.

“What?” Jian Ya was stunned. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

Temporary marking?

How was that supposed to be a real treatment?

Was this doctor seriously not messing with her?

The doctor clearly didn’t know what was going through her mind. Even if he did, he might just be amused by teasing someone so beautiful, watching her anxious reaction—it was, admittedly, a little entertaining.

Still, he explained patiently, “The patient’s condition is quite special. Her pheromone disorder isn’t pathological. In other words, it hasn’t become a long-term or habitual problem yet, which is actually a good thing.”

“The reason she’s having these episodes is because of some unusual triggers. They caused her pheromones to go out of control, and the excess can’t be released properly. That leads to a range of symptoms—like her consciousness being overwhelmed by the pheromones.”

As Jian Ya listened, the scene from earlier in the lounge suddenly flashed through her mind.

So that was it—Shen Shuyi had been completely overtaken by her pheromones at the time. That meant her actions and words hadn’t come from her true feelings at all.

Jian Ya finally understood just how serious and dangerous this pheromone disorder could be.

And what if it hadn’t been her in the room that day?

What if it had been someone else…

Jian Ya’s eyes darkened. The consequences could have been unimaginable.

“Then how do we fix it?” she asked urgently.

“Don’t worry, let me explain the logic first,” the doctor said in a calm voice. “Right now, she’s trying to manage it with medication, but that only blocks the problem rather than solves it. It might work temporarily, but over time, it’ll just make things worse. Eventually, she could completely lose control. If it turns into a long-term disorder, it’ll stay with her for life—and at that point, it can’t be cured.”

As he said this, the doctor’s tone grew more serious.

Jian Ya could hear the weight in his voice, and she fully realized how critical the situation was. Her expression became more solemn too.

The doctor continued, “That’s why I’m saying her current method isn’t right. The good news is, her condition isn’t too advanced yet. As long as someone can temporarily mark her during each episode—helping her release the pheromones in a healthy, guided way—then after a few times, her system will regulate itself. That’s how she can fully recover.”

Jian Ya fell silent.

If they were married—if Shen Shuyi didn’t mind her—then she could help mark her at any time. That would be simple.

But things weren’t that simple. Their relationship was awkward right now.

How could she possibly tell Shen Shuyi, “Your condition is unique. You need temporary marking to recover.”

No matter how she said it, it would sound like she was trying to take advantage of her.

And if it wasn’t her helping, if it were someone else…

Just thinking about that made Jian Ya uncomfortable. And knowing Shen Shuyi’s personality, there was no way she would ever agree to being marked by just anyone.

This Definitely Won’t Work

Jian Ya rubbed her temples, feeling a deep headache coming on. She looked at the doctor and said, “Um… our situation makes temporary marking a bit difficult. Is there any other option?”

“Difficult to do a temporary marking?” The doctor gave Jian Ya a slightly amused look. “So conservative? No temporary marking before marriage?”

Jian Ya immediately caught the teasing in his tone, and her face turned bright red.

That wasn’t the issue at all. The awkwardness between her and Shen Shuyi had nothing to do with being conservative.

“If you can’t do a temporary marking, then the situation becomes a bit more troublesome,” the doctor said.

“There’s really no other solution?” Jian Ya asked again, not ready to give up.

“The easiest and most direct method is still temporary marking,” the doctor replied. “But if that’s not an option, there is one alternative. However, it’s very hard on the Alpha.”

“What do you mean by hard on the Alpha?” Jian Ya asked.

“Every time the Omega has an episode, the Alpha needs to stay with her and use their own pheromones to help balance hers,” the doctor explained. “But doing that forces both of them into a heat-like state. And going through that without actually completing the mark…”

He paused and shook his head slightly. “That’s extremely exhausting for the Alpha.”

After hearing this, Jian Ya fell silent.

The doctor’s words made an old memory suddenly appear in her mind. It was from a film she had seen in her past life.

In that film, the main character was drugged, tied up, and left on a bed. Her body was overwhelmed by uncontrollable desire, and she had no way to release it. In the end, she was nearly driven to collapse.

Jian Ya had only watched it because a friend dragged her along. She remembered saying afterward that it wasn’t an adult film at all, but more like one of the ten cruelest tortures from the Qing Dynasty.

Now, the doctor’s words echoed in her mind with a grim twist.

Shen Shuyi’s condition wasn’t untreatable, but the cost of treatment felt like going through one of those ancient tortures.

She said nothing.

The doctor, having explained everything he needed to, didn’t say more.

The decision had to be made by the patient and those close to her.

“We’ll still prescribe medication,” the doctor said. “But the method has already been explained. The nurse has also talked to the patient. How to proceed is something you’ll need to decide together.”

With that, he gave a slight nod and walked away.

Jian Ya stood at the door, still thinking about what the doctor had said. Her thoughts were completely tangled.

She rubbed her forehead again, deciding to put the decision on hold for now. It was more important to check how Shen Shuyi was doing.

She stepped forward and gently pushed open the door.

Shen Shuyi was already awake. She sat on the hospital bed, her face still pale, but her eyes had returned to their usual calm, as cold and quiet as a still lake.

The reddish flush that had spread over her skin during the episode had completely faded now.

Jian Ya let out a small breath of relief.

It seemed, just as the doctor had said, that the situation had stabilized for now.

“How are you feeling? Any better?” she asked softly.

Shen Shuyi looked up at her and gave a small nod.

After a brief hesitation, she lowered her voice and said, “Jian Ya… I’m sorry. And… thank you.”

“Hm?” Jian Ya raised her eyebrows slightly, puzzled by the sudden apology and thanks that seemed to come out of nowhere.

But Shen Shuyi clearly didn’t want to say more.

Or rather, the moment she thought back to what had just happened, she immediately felt a wave of embarrassment.

Yes, she had been completely overpowered by her out-of-control pheromones. But that didn’t mean she didn’t remember what had happened.

In fact, not only did she remember—it was painfully clear in her mind.

She remembered exactly how she had crossed the line with Jian Ya. She remembered how she had touched Jian Ya’s gland, trying to draw her into a sensitivity phase.

That kind of behavior—borderline predatory—was something she couldn’t believe she had done.

But…

What was done was done. She couldn’t just brush it off with a simple “my pheromones were out of control” and pretend none of it was her responsibility.

So, she apologized.

And she also thanked Jian Ya—for not marking her during the episode, and for bringing her to the hospital when she needed help.

After speaking, Shen Shuyi looked at her with an expression that held both guilt and quiet regret.

That expression caught Jian Ya off guard.

After all, Shen Shuyi had always been cold and distant with her. Most of the time, it felt like she couldn’t wait to push her as far away as possible.

Seeing her act so soft and grateful now made Jian Ya feel… unsure how to react.

“There’s no need to say that,” Jian Ya replied gently. “Honestly, anyone would’ve done the same in that situation.”

Shen Shuyi lowered her eyes slightly.

Would anyone really have done the same?

She tried to imagine switching places with Jian Ya. If it had been her being touched and provoked so boldly, could she have stayed calm and not retaliated?

She wasn’t sure she could have.

Even if it hadn’t been intentional.

Jian Ya didn’t dwell on it. There was something more important she needed to discuss with Shen Shuyi.

“Um… did the doctor talk to you about your condition? What are you planning to do next?” Jian Ya asked, pausing a little as she tried to find the right words.

Facing Shen Shuyi, she suddenly didn’t know how to bring it up.

“You don’t need to worry about what I’ll do,” Shen Shuyi said instinctively.

She had always been this way—keeping others at a distance when it came to personal matters. It wasn’t directed at Jian Ya specifically.

But after she said it, she noticed a flicker of disappointment in Jian Ya’s eyes.

For some reason, she hesitated, then softened her voice and added quietly, “I’ll take the medicine. Properly.”

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