After Being Used As A Substitute By A Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 7

The weather was oppressively sweltering, even the cicadas couldn’t help but clamor. A slight breeze blew through the branches, causing the leaves to sway gently, their shadows nearly overlapping with the figures inside the car.

The interior of the car was a world apart from the outside. The air conditioning was on, and the temperature was low, yet the heat remained palpable. Ebony pheromones surged within this small, cramped space, desperately trying to seep through the cracks to escape. Just as they thought they had found a way out, they were promptly swept back by a surging ocean, any attempt at flight only invited a more frantic assault.

Qin Wei’s gland hurt from the bite.

“You’re so mean.”

Qin Wei’s voice sounded timid, carrying more of a coquettish whine. The fine hairs at her temples were damp, and a layer of light sweat had risen on her neck. She looked somewhat weary and sickly, like a jasmine flower weathered by a rainstorm, exuding a soul-consuming attraction.

Zhongli Tang knew she had been heavy-handed today and gave her a steadying, reassurring kiss.

Qin Wei moved imperceptibly to avoid it, feeling only a fleeting softness against her chin.

Zhongli Tang was thoroughly satisfied, so she wasn’t angry. Why get upset with a temperamental little rabbit? “What, you don’t like it? From what I saw, you loved it. I only marked you last night, and just now you were holding onto me, refusing to let go, begging for more. Now you’re turning a cold shoulder?”

Qin Wei bit her lip softly. “I am not.”

“Such a little ungrateful thing.” Zhongli Tang teased, pinching her cheek. “Next time, next time I’ll be gentler.”

She hadn’t expected herself to be so indulgent, so utterly decadent. It wasn’t entirely due to the influence of her past environment, it was more that it was her first time seeing Qin Wei at work, focused and serious, as if a beam of light was hitting her, making her too pure for even a speck of dust to touch.

The main reason, however, was that Qin Wei was too alluring. At first glance, she seemed like a glass of bland, tasteless water, something one might drink just for the sake of it. But upon careful savoring, she held the fragrance of roses, yet left an aftertaste of pungent, strong liquor.

“Don’t touch me anymore.”

Qin Wei patted her hand away and tidied herself up. She smoothed her hair, instantly regaining her original prim and proper appearance. With her meticulous look, she could have stepped straight onto a stage to give a speech, one could never tell she had just been up to something “bad.”

Watching her revert to her “good student” persona, Zhongli Tang felt an itch in her hands to tease her again but restrained herself. She hadn’t forgotten their next destination. She grabbed a bag from the backseat and handed it to Qin Wei, saying casually, “I’m taking you to meet some friends later. You can’t go looking like that.”

The bag was the latest model trending online, its design praised to the heavens.

Qin Wei had heard her younger classmates complaining about how hard it was to get. She took the bag but didn’t move. Zhongli Tang actually spotted a hint of hesitation in her eyes, rather than joy.

“You don’t want to go?”

Qin Wei lowered her brows and shook her head, giving her a smile. “No, I just felt a little surprised.”

Zhongli Tang arched an eyebrow. That made sense, why would she think Qin Wei didn’t want to go? Such an obedient person, she probably still didn’t even know who Zhongli Tang really was.

“You know too little about me. I’m taking you to see the world, so you don’t keep thinking I studied acting.”

“Oh.” Qin Wei’s response was lukewarm, lacking enthusiasm.

An Omega is naturally weak after a temporary marking, and with her allergic constitution, she felt even more exhausted.

“Shouldn’t you follow the conversation and ask me about it now?” Zhongli Tang found it funny that she was coaching her little lover on how to please her.

Qin Wei didn’t speak. She fiddled with her phone for a few seconds before saying matter of factly, “No need. I already found it. It says your major was Finance.”

“You only know how to check Baidu Encyclopedia? You wouldn’t think to ask the person herself?” Zhongli Tang smiled, her eyes crinkling. She suddenly realized that Qin Wei had two distinct states, one of extreme seduction in bed, and another of almost naive persistence in handling matters. It was hard to imagine such contrasting traits existing in the same person.

But she didn’t dislike it.

“What is it? Is what it says fake?” A deep confusion filled Qin Wei’s light-colored eyes.

“No, it’s true,” Zhongli Tang rubbed her temples. “Forget it. Watch fewer things online in the future, lest you get tricked by someone one day without even knowing it. Understood?”

Qin Wei felt belittled. She shot a quiet glare at Zhongli Tang and simply stopped talking.

There were no assistants arranged for this private trip. Since Qin Wei didn’t know how to drive, the task naturally fell to Zhongli Tang.

Qin Wei rummaged through the bag. Inside were Omega gland patches and a full set of makeup. The patch she had put on this morning had been torn off; it certainly couldn’t be reused, so it was good to have a new one to replace it.

As for makeup, Qin Wei only used lipstick. Fortunately, her natural features were excellent, a bit of red on her lips didn’t make her look gaudy. Instead, it enhanced the innate coldness in her bones, the kind of look that most easily triggers a buried desire for conquest.

“Aren’t you going to ask where I’m taking you?” Zhongli Tang watched her out of the corner of her eye. Her hands on the steering wheel were slender and full of aesthetic grace, a single photo posted online would immediately attract a tidal wave of fans.

Qin Wei only looked for a few moments before glancing away.

“But… Sister wouldn’t lie to me.”

Hearing those words, Zhongli Tang didn’t even need to look to know that Qin Wei must have that look of infatuation and trust again. She now felt somewhat lucky that she had attended that incredibly boring banquet and helped Qin Wei. If someone else had helped her like that, would she trust that person just as much?

Zhongli Tang felt her thoughts were illogical, but once they surfaced, she couldn’t suppress them. Half-joking and half-serious, she asked, “If it had been someone else, would you have gone with them too?”

Qin Wei frowned and said without hesitation, “But you are Zhongli Tang.”

Zhongli Tang gave a soft laugh.

The answer was plain and unadorned, lacking any cleverness. Anyone else would have used this moment to praise their affection to the heavens, but not Qin Wei.

The Arielis Bar operated on a membership basis. It was funded by various conglomerates and was highly inclusive. While some bars barred Omegas for safety reasons, this place was different, various pheromones drifted through the air.

This was Qin Wei’s first time in such a place. Her first reaction was that it was too loud, and she instinctively tried to back away.

“This way, please.” An Omega server led the two of them to a private booth on the third floor.

“Don’t be nervous. They’re all acquaintances. I’m here, no one can bully you,” Zhongli Tang said, assuming she was anxious.

Qin Wei shook her head.

Once they reached the booth, the deafening music from outside faded significantly. Inside were all sorts of people, their bodies moving and intermingling in a display of apparent happiness. Consequently, the pheromones were even thicker than outside. Despite her temporary mark, Qin Wei felt an itch at the tip of her nose. She wanted to rub it, but Zhongli Tang was holding her hand, so she desisted.

“President Zhongli! You’re a busy person indeed. We’re all here, and you’re the last one again. Late for so long every time.” A male Beta’s voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

Zhongli Tang glanced at him. “What do you want?”

The male Beta sneered. He couldn’t do anything to Zhongli Tang, so he naturally targeted Qin Wei. “We have to make an example, right? It would be bad if someone else followed your lead next time. How about this: this Omega you brought is a new face. If she wants to join our circle, she needs to show some capability. But since she’s yours, President Zhongli, I won’t make it too hard. Just three drinks.”

Before he even finished speaking, the eyes of everyone in the booth fell on Qin Wei. There was scrutiny, jealousy, and a mix of other emotions. They had seen Zhongli Tang bring others before, but they never expected someone like this.

Just standing there, Qin Wei looked completely out of place. Her clothes were simple, yet they emphasized her thin, upright frame. Upon closer inspection, her face wasn’t of the conventionally “gorgeous” type, her skin was pale and delicate, and her features weren’t flirtatious. Instead, her temperament gave off a sense of composure and indifference.

The Alphas and Omegas on the dance floor slowed their movements and quieted down. They felt an inexplicable urge to behave properly in her presence.

Standing next to the fire like Zhongli Tang, she didn’t lose out in the slightest.

This request meant nothing to Zhongli Tang. Besides, if she wanted to bring Qin Wei out in the future, she would inevitably have to deal with these people. She didn’t mind, but with Qin Wei’s soft personality, a blunt refusal would surely invite unnecessary trouble.

“Fine, then drink up.” Zhongli Tang spoke nonchalantly. She refused the drink offered by someone nearby and personally poured a glass, handing it over.

Qin Wei frowned. “I’m not drinking. I’ve never had alcohol.”

“It’s just a little, you won’t get drunk,” Zhongli Tang whispered in her ear, bringing the glass to her lips.

“I won’t drink it.” Qin Wei turned her face away directly.

The scene went silent. An awkwardness hung in the air. Someone spoke up to smooth things over. Although Zhongli Tang showed no outward anger and even wore a slight smile, Qin Wei could feel Zhongli Tang’s pheromones surging within her gland.

Zhongli Tang lowered her brows, her breathing becoming heavy. She wasn’t angry because Qin Wei hadn’t given her “face” rather, the fact that Qin Wei would refuse her at all made her lose the sense of control she had always been confident in.

“Fine.”

Before Qin Wei could breathe a sigh of relief, Zhongli Tang grabbed her by the waist. With her other hand steadily holding the glass, she almost forcefully poured the liquor in.

More than half the liquid trickled down Qin Wei’s smooth jawline. Her white shirt gradually became transparent, revealing the nearly perfect lines of her body and her thin collarbones. Crucially, the faint red marks hidden beneath were also exposed, an intensely provocative sight that invited wild imagination.

Qin Wei couldn’t push her away. Immediately after, her tongue caught a hint of lemon water.