After Being Used As A Substitute By A Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 24

Qin Wei looked at her with a cold face, her eyes filled with stubbornness. “I was just one step away.”

The two remained at a deadlock for a while. Zhongli Tang was more persistent, she slowly pried Qin Wei’s hands off the door handle, giving her no chance to hesitate, and then gently placed her on the bed.

“Do you have any idea how weak an Omega’s body is?”

Qin Wei ignored her, quickly wrapping herself in the quilt until only a few strands of hair were visible through the gaps, a silent protest.

Zhongli Tang didn’t know where to start. She knew that if she compromised once, she would never be able to control Qin Wei again. Still, she couldn’t help but soften her tone. “Did you rest well while I was away? How many hours did you sleep a day?”

“Ten,” Qin Wei replied tentatively, peeking out from a small corner of the blanket.

“Qin Wei, tell the truth.” Zhongli Tang’s face darkened, her voice low and husky.

Having followed her for so many years, Qin Wei knew exactly when she was truly angry and when she was faking it. Despite how terrifying Zhongli Tang looked to outsiders, Qin Wei wasn’t intimidated at all. She buried herself back in the quilt, acting as if nothing had happened.

After this back and forth, Zhongli Tang could no longer keep a straight face. Seeing the faint glimmer of a smile in Qin Wei’s eyes, she didn’t feel the annoyance she usually felt at such behavior. Instead, it felt novel. Qin Wei rarely, if ever, lost her temper with her. (Except for things in bed, of course, but that was just “play.”)

“Three or four hours,” Qin Wei muttered vaguely.

Zhongli Tang pulled the quilt away without a word. Qin Wei kept her eyes tightly shut, her thick lashes trembling twice before she slowly opened them. She wore a piteous expression, as if she were the one who had been wronged.

Zhongli Tang pinched her cheek, the skin felt soft. Seeing Qin Wei grow impatient, she reluctantly let go. “Still trying to lie to me?”

Knowing Qin Wei, she probably slept even less than that.

Qin Wei glanced at her, her lips lightly brushing Zhongli Tang’s retreating fingertips. Her misty eyes were so innocent that Zhongli Tang couldn’t bring herself to say another harsh word.

Zhongli Tang had originally intended to give her a piece of her mind to make her remember the lesson, but now she couldn’t say anything. Her gaze darkened, brewing a private storm that could easily swallow anything weak.

“Weiwei, do you think I’m that easy to brush off?”

Sometimes she really wondered if she was truly Qin Wei’s first girlfriend. Otherwise, how could these small gestures be so natural? She would tease someone to the breaking point while maintaining an air of pure innocence.

Qin Wei seemed unaware of the danger. She thought seriously for a moment and then shook her head. There were many times she couldn’t hold out any longer, yet Zhongli Tang showed no signs of fatigue, the surging ocean pheromones in the air were proof enough.

“Sister, mark me. If you mark me, I’ll go to sleep.”

During these days in the hospital, Qin Wei had been using suppressants. Zhongli Tang was afraid of the impact on her body, so since returning, she had only marked her once. Truth be told, Zhongli Tang felt she was at a loss, she had originally stayed with Qin Wei for the pheromones, but now the tables had turned, and Qin Wei had become the little ancestor to be pampered.

A flash of hesitation crossed Zhongli Tang’s eyes, but Qin Wei was more proactive, hooking her arms around her neck as their breaths intertwined.

“I went to the hospital today. The doctor said marking doesn’t affect anything, and the pheromones…”

Before she could finish, Zhongli Tang lowered her head and touched Qin Wei’s neck. The gland felt a wave of warmth. Qin Wei habitually frowned, but the expected pain didn’t come.

It was a kiss.

Before Qin Wei could catch her breath, sharp teeth pierced the gland in the next second. Zhongli Tang’s pheromones invaded like a relentless tide, giving her no chance to buffer. She struggled instinctively, but her body sank deeper into the sensation.

Suddenly, Zhongli Tang stopped. She forced Qin Wei’s chin up to meet her gaze, her phoenix-like eyes filled with disbelief. Her voice rose: “What did you do?!”

Qin Wei felt the pain from the grip. A tear rolled down her eye and onto the pillow. She looked dazed for a moment before speaking, “Sister… what’s wrong?”

In the air, the scent of the ocean and ebony blended perfectly, inseparable. But upon closer inspection, there was a faint hint of rose. It wasn’t strong, appearing only during moments of intense emotion.

Zhongli Tang’s first reaction was a sense of betrayal. Qin Wei’s pheromones had changed, they were no longer the ebony she loved. But the thought flashed and vanished.

“What did you do today?” Her tone sounded calm but was chillingly cold, like a spouse who had just found evidence of an affair.

Qin Wei, her jaw held tight, spoke unclearly. “I just went to the lab and the hospital, nothing else.”

Zhongli Tang’s gaze was sharp. For some reason, hearing this answer made her heart tremble. What she found repulsive wasn’t the idea of betrayal itself, but the thought that Qin Wei might have been with someone else. At that thought, she began to lose control of her emotions, and the previously calm ocean pheromones began to churn.

“Sister?” Qin Wei’s voice was timid.

Zhongli Tang hadn’t expected to be this angry. There was once a substitute who looked most like Xu Sui (she couldn’t even remember her name now). When that person was caught going to a hotel with another Alpha, Zhongli Tang remembered simply saying “I see” and heading to a meeting. When she came out, the substitute was crying hysterically, promising there wouldn’t be a second time. She simply called security and walked away.

Even now, she didn’t regret it.

But when it came to Qin Wei, she actually felt that if she just told the truth, she might give her another chance.

Zhongli Tang felt ridiculous, yet her subconscious told her it was perfectly viable. She didn’t understand the logic; she just didn’t want Qin Wei to leave.

So… did she like Qin Wei?

Beneath her, Qin Wei frowned, two faint red marks on her face as she struggled to escape.

This face looked nothing like Xu Sui. No wonder others were confused. But pheromones don’t lie.

Zhongli Tang quickly convinced herself: if she lost Qin Wei, where would she find such a similar scent?

She effortlessly pulled the retreating Qin Wei back onto the bed, circling her in her arms. Her thumb brushed the skin she had pinched red.

“Why are you running? It’s my fault. Does it still hurt?”

Her tone was soothing, like comforting a child throwing a tantrum for candy. Even her movements were the same.

Qin Wei frowned, her skin breaking into goosebumps. Her body stiffened. She had never seen this side of Zhongli Tang. She had thought that by acting deeply in love and saying a few sweet words, she could keep the woman pacified as a tool for temporary marking.

After all, given Zhongli Tang’s status, she wasn’t the type to help someone after a confession. Qin Wei had known this since the first day she met her, especially after they established their relationship.

To be honest, the confidence and secret pleasure Qin Wei had harbored were shattered at this moment.

Indeed, Zhongli Tang was always Zhongli Tang, she was not someone easily manipulated.

Zhongli Tang’s gaze felt like a venomous snake eyeing its prey, making Qin Wei want to hide. But there was nowhere to turn. Her shoulders shook.

The ocean pheromones lingered, heavy with pressure and sharp power.

Zhongli Tang lay on her side, eyes half-closed, looking like a sleeping beauty. Her silk nightgown clung loosely to her curves. Qin Wei hardly dared to look, fearing she would be flayed alive in the next second.

Zhongli Tang was savoring Qin Wei’s fear, the surface level panic and the deep-seated tremors. They were the perfect nutrients.

“It doesn’t hurt.” Qin Wei didn’t want to be passive, so she forced a smile.

Zhongli Tang found it eyesore, it was fake, devoid of emotion. She couldn’t help but wonder how Qin Wei smiled in front of other Alphas. They must be very charmed.

Zhongli Tang’s thoughts were dangerous, but she couldn’t stop them. Staring at Qin Wei’s fair, slender neck, she subconsciously licked her fangs. After staring for a while, she noticed a tiny red dot near the back. It was so small it could easily be mistaken for a mole.

But Zhongli Tang had been with Qin Wei for so long, was there any part of her body she hadn’t seen?

How could a mole appear out of nowhere? She quickly realized it was a needle mark.

Aren’t Omega suppressants supposed to be injected in the arm or hand? Since when did they go in the neck?

Within a heartbeat, Zhongli Tang found the answer, it was to let the drug enter the system faster to see the experimental progress. If the legs or arms weren’t fast enough, the neck was next.

“Weiwei,” Zhongli Tang called her name.

Qin Wei didn’t understand. She turned her head and was met with a kiss on the corner of her mouth.

Zhongli Tang said hoarsely, “It’s my fault for not asking more.”

Confused, Qin Wei shook her head. “It’s fine, I’m okay.”

“Fine. Then tell me, where did that needle mark on your neck come from?” Zhongli Tang asked.

Qin Wei opened her lips to make an excuse, but looking into Zhongli Tang’s eyes, which seemed to see through her soul, she unintentionally spoke the truth.

“The experiment finally made progress. Sister Su He helped make a few vials. I researched it; it’s harmless. It’s just that the duration is too short, I need to improve it. Also, the pheromones… they are slightly affected. I went to the hospital for a check-up later, and they couldn’t even detect the drug.”

Qin Wei had also asked about the allergies. While there wasn’t a huge impact, she was still worried, which is why she risked asking Zhongli Tang for a temporary mark. She hadn’t expected her to get so angry.

She suddenly recalled Zhongli Tang saying she liked her pheromones at that party. At the time, she didn’t think much of it, but now it seemed there was a hidden motive. Otherwise, why would she notice such a detail after only half a dose had been injected?

Thinking that Zhongli Tang might also be after her pheromones, Qin Wei didn’t feel sad. Instead, she felt a sense of relief.

They really were a 100% matched Alpha and Omega, even their motives were the same.

“Snap out of it! What are you thinking? And I didn’t ask about the drug’s efficacy. I don’t care about that. Why did you inject it?” Even though Zhongli Tang was furious, she tried her best to control her voice so as not to scare her.

Qin Wei blinked, not understanding why she was asking such a simple question. “Because it’s effective. It was the fastest way I could find.”

Despite Zhongli Tang’s strange behavior, Qin Wei was generally happy. she had gained a lot.

Zhongli Tang’s curly hair blended with Qin Wei’s straight hair. Their positions shifted. Zhongli Tang pressed down on Qin Wei, their faces so close they could see every reaction.

“The fastest way? And then?!”

“For a trivial experiment, you sacrifice your neck? Next time it gets harder, will you inject it directly into your gland?!”

“Qin Wei, can you please use your head?”

Zhongli Tang’s final sentence was quiet, but it was what she wanted to say most.

Qin Wei had her own persistence. She dropped her usual gentle demeanor and became cold and aloof. “But this is important to me!”

Zhongli Tang regretted not deleting everything on the internet and instead waiting to see Qin Wei’s reaction. Now that there were results, she wasn’t happy at all.

“Don’t ever do that again. If I catch you once more, you’re not going to the lab anymore.”

Qin Wei’s eyes widened. She immediately pushed her away. “No.”

Zhongli Tang couldn’t understand her resistance. She felt a sense of powerlessness in controlling her. Why couldn’t Qin Wei just stay forever? Why couldn’t she protect herself? If only Qin Wei would just listen to her… the thoughts in her mind terrified her, but she couldn’t care less.

“What is it that you want that I can’t give you?”

“But yours is yours, and mine is mine. It’s not the same.” Qin Wei remained unmoved. Her breathing was uneven, but her words were clear.

“Is that how you feel?”

Zhongli Tang was far angrier than she had been when she thought Qin Wei might be with another Alpha. Violence surged in her veins. She grabbed a bite inhibitor and used the leather strap to pin Qin Wei’s struggling hands above her head.

Qin Wei gritted her teeth and looked away, still trying to escape. Her hands were slender and white, in the struggle, the strap tightened, causing veins to bulge slightly. She looked weak and helpless, yet unyielding, the most enticing combination.

“I… I know I was wrong. Sister, let me go.”

Zhongli Tang watched the panic on her face. This was her true reaction. She gave a light laugh, pulling her long hair back with one hand. A few strands fell, adding to her charm. Her nightgown slipped, revealing her collarbone. She looked like a demon about to feast on a delicacy.

“Why do you only ‘know you’re wrong’ now?”

Qin Wei’s throat moved convulsively. She had a terrible premonition. Even before the pheromones entered her gland, she felt suffocated, as if she were drowning. An Omega’s instinct is to obey and submit, there is no fairness. Her brain thought one thing, but her body said another.

“No, Sister… I know you’re doing this for my own good. I won’t test drugs on myself again.”

Once my illness is cured, you won’t be able to control me. I’ll do whatever I want then, she thought.

Zhongli Tang sneered. Her Alpha instincts overrode her logic. She had realized that to satisfy her desires and make Qin Wei stay forever, a temporary mark wasn’t enough.

“I’ll give you a permanent mark, okay?”