After Dating the President O, I Turned Into a Puppy-Like Lover - Chapter 31

As November drew to a close, classrooms across the school began switching on their heaters.

The warmth inside left students sluggish and drowsy. By the time the second-period assembly was announced, the hallways were filled with sighs and complaints.

The stairwells were jammed, everyone shuffling forward at a snail’s pace.

It took nearly two minutes just to reach the second floor, where the first-year classrooms were located.

Coming down from upstairs, Jiang He happened to run into Fu Jiu, who was merging into the crowd.

Fu Jiu beamed at her, eyes twinkling.

“Cousin, does your face still hurt? That day the lights went out so quickly, I didn’t even get a proper look.” She rose on tiptoe, reaching toward Jiang He’s cheek.

Jiang He brushed her hand away with disdain. “Don’t touch me.”

“Why are you so mean!” Fu Jiu pouted. “Hmph!”

Jiang He gave her a sidelong glance, voice low. “Because you weren’t the one who got beaten.”

“But I made it up to you,” Fu Jiu argued. “Who was it that kindly dragged you out? Who was it that brought Sister Rou to you?”

“Fine, fine. Thank you,” Jiang He muttered bitterly. “Thanks to your whole family.”

Fu Jiu dropped the subject, then leaned closer, gossiping. “So, after I left that day, what happened between you and Sister Rou?”

“Nothing.” Jiang He replied flatly.

“What do you mean, nothing?” Fu Jiu pressed.

“What could have happened?” Jiang He shot back. “It was just one day. What do you expect?”

“I thought you’d at least confess.” Fu Jiu tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I imagined you confessing, she rejecting, you confessing again, she rejecting again, until you became like an indestructible cockroach.”

“Stop.” Jiang He’s voice was icy. “Who are you calling a cockroach?”

Fu Jiu stifled a laugh.

She seemed to forget her cousin was a proud, striking Alpha—admired by many, pursued by plenty. Jiang He was reserved, not the type to chase anyone relentlessly. To picture her begging for affection was almost absurd.

“You’re an Alpha. You should take the initiative,” Fu Jiu advised. “If you don’t, do you expect Sister Rou to chase you? If she ends up with someone else, you’ll be crying.”

Her grin was mischievous, her tone smug.

Jiang He’s eyes darkened, ripples stirring in her heart.

Time slipped into December.

Temperatures in Dongcheng kept dropping. The forecast even predicted snow in a few days.

While cooking, Dan Sirou noticed the fridge was nearly empty. She decided to visit the nearby fresh market that afternoon to stock up.

The weather was pleasant. She drew open the curtains, sunlight spilling across her face, making her squint.

December sunlight was gentle, carrying a faint warmth.

She put on a coat, fastening the toggle buttons one by one, slipped into white shoes, and quietly closed the door behind her.

Though there were small shops just a few hundred meters away, she chose to walk farther to a larger supermarket. The selection there was better, and prices more reasonable.

She bought daily necessities, refilled her supply of milk powder and lotus root starch, picked up eggs and fruit that would keep well. This way, even while she was at school, her mother wouldn’t need to go out shopping.

The heavy bag was tiring for an Omega, but manageable. The supermarket wasn’t far, about a fifteen-minute walk.

The store sat in a busy district, across from a quieter residential area. Her home was on that street.

Crossing the road, she suddenly felt something unsettling in the air, a disturbance she couldn’t name.

She slowed, scanning around. No one nearby.

With cameras everywhere and security improving, what trouble could there be in broad daylight?

Perhaps she was just tense. She shook it off and kept walking.

But the further she went, the stronger the stench became.

Dan Sirou frowned. Pheromones.

Was someone in heat here?

She slowed again, uncertain. The scent clearly drifted from her neighborhood. If she turned back, her mother would be left exposed, she had opened the windows earlier to air out the house. The smell would seep inside.

She hesitated. Then, her Omega instincts screamed, someone was watching.

Turning, she saw a massive figure blotting out the sun, casting a heavy shadow.

A man, face bloated with fat, loomed in her vision. His eyes narrowed, fixed on her gland.

The stench of rust spread from his body, suffocating.

Thick pheromones wrapped around her, her fragile gland stirred into chaos.

Even the strongest Omega was nothing but prey before an Alpha. The pressure froze her limbs.

The man leaned closer, mouth opening, sharp canine teeth flashing.

His face loomed nearer, until she could see nothing but his eyes, nose, mouth. The rust stench thickened, his yellowed teeth about to graze her skin.

One thought filled her mind: I cannot be marked here.

Summoning her strength, she swung her arm. Smack! The grocery bag hit his face.

He staggered, stunned.

She didn’t wait. Groceries scattered, she bolted toward home, instincts driving her.

Home was safety.

She ran, lungs burning. Just one more corner, her building was twenty meters away.

Almost there.

Suddenly, another man stepped from the alley. Like the first, his body reeked of rot. What should have been a fresh citrus scent was now foul, decayed.

Dan Sirou froze, despair flooding her.

The pheromone assault blurred her vision. Her gland burned, uncontrollable waves of heat rising.

The Alpha’s scent was a net, trapping her. He advanced step by step. Her body weakened, bound by his pheromones. She could only watch.

Her gland grew hotter, the suppressed floral scent straining to break free. She was on the verge of heat.

Just as the stench peaked, the expected touch never came.

Instead—thud! The man collapsed.

Blood seeped from his neck, dripping onto her shoes.

Dan Sirou gasped, horrified, stumbling back.

Her first thought was to flag down a car. But the street, usually busy, was eerily empty.

Another Alpha appeared in the distance, his scent suffocating, deathly.

She had no choice. She fled into an abandoned alley.

There, a barrier she had once discovered while feeding stray cats could block scents to some degree.

Thankfully, her agreement with Jiang He had made her carry inhibitors. She needed to reach that spot, to suppress her body before heat consumed her.

She prayed no more Alphas lurked ahead.

The alley was deserted, as always.

Finally reaching the barrier, she collapsed against the wall, gasping. Her body burned, trembling on the edge of heat, dangerously close to breaking.

She hadn’t brought any inhibitors with her, only the faint traces contained in the blocking agent she carried, barely enough to help her body recover on its own.

Time passed uncertainly. At last, the feverish throbbing of her gland began to ease.

Surviving by sheer will, Dan Sirou finally had the strength to reach for her phone. Her lashes lowered in disappointment, no signal. Earlier, during her frantic escape, she had tried calling the police, but with so many reports flooding in, the line had never connected.

The streets were thick with pheromones. From the alley, she could glimpse Alpha figures moving in the distance.

She pressed herself into a corner, back against the wall. She dared not imagine what would happen if Alphas took control of this area.

In pheromone riots, humans lost all reason, driven purely by animal instinct. They hunted for the scent of Omegas, found their prey, then tore into glands with sharp teeth, leaving forced marks.

Sometimes, multiple Alphas fought over a single Omega. One would defeat the other, claim the body, then another would arrive to leave his mark. For the Omega caught in such a cycle, it was nothing short of annihilation.

And Alphas didn’t just lose reason, they slaughtered each other. Lower-ranked Alphas couldn’t withstand the pheromones of higher ones. Their glands ruptured under the pressure. If the gap was wide enough, it could even kill them outright.

The Alpha she had seen earlier was proof of that.

At the bus stop nearby, chaos unfolded.

An Alpha had clamped his teeth into an Omega’s neck. There was no beauty in the act, only brutality. Like a wolf chasing down a lamb, his fangs pierced skin, tearing flesh open like a zipper, blood spilling freely.

Dan Sirou couldn’t bear to watch.

She had been calm, trying to think of solutions. But now, her heart pounded in her throat, her legs heavy as lead, refusing to move.

What should I do?

Would she be marked next?

In moments of crisis, instinct sought comfort, something to cling to for safety.

And now, her mind turned to that girl with the clean, fresh scent of milk—the Alpha who had once protected her.

Dan Sirou pressed against the wall, closing her eyes in despair.

Where are you Jiang He.

Taekwondo Gym.

Training always made time fly. An entire morning slipped away in the rhythm of swift, powerful strikes.

Though only a second-year, Jiang He was already at black belt level.

Finishing her last set, she removed her protective gear. Sweat soaked her headband, droplets clinging to her long lashes. With a blink, one slid into her eye.

She entered the locker room.

There were ten stalls, each equipped with supplies suited for ABO physiology, along with air purifiers to prevent disruptions during intense training.

She shed her uniform, twisting her long hair into a bun.

Her proportions were flawless for an Alpha. Usually hidden beneath neutral clothing, her physique was rarely seen so clearly.

Water cascaded from the showerhead, pattering against her skin. She cupped her hands, splashing her face, rinsing away sweat.

Her lashes glistened with mist, her long legs planted firmly in the water, Alpha strength evident in every line.

She turned off the shower.

Drying herself with a towel, she dressed layer by layer.

Carrying her clothes in a bag, she stepped out.

When she had arrived, the locker room was empty. Now, a few others were chatting. Their voices fell silent as she emerged. A girl tugged at the sleeve of an Omega boy, urging him with her eyes. He stammered, unable to speak. The others, disappointed, went off to shower.

Jiang He didn’t know them. Reserved by nature, she rarely spoke unless someone was particularly persistent. At the gym, she was always solitary.

Near the door, a little girl entered with her mother. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Jiang He. “Big sister!”

“Yuan Yuan.” Jiang He’s cool gaze softened with a smile. “Here to train again?”

“Mm-hm.” The girl nodded. “Big sister, are you leaving now?”

“Yes.” Jiang He crouched, patting her head. “Train well. Next time, I’ll buy you something tasty.”

Yuan Yuan had joined the gym the same day Jiang He had transferred. Her mother wanted her to learn self-defense. At first, the girl had cried in the locker room, realizing it wasn’t playtime but real training. Jiang He, reminded of her younger self, had stepped in.

After a few words with her mother, Jiang He said goodbye.

Afternoon, 1 p.m.

Jiang He arrived at Xingwei Cottage, a café run by Yu Wei’s family.

Yu Wei’s Alpha mother owned several properties in Dongcheng, living off rent. Her Omega mother ran a cozy tea restaurant in the bustling A District.

This café was their own, designed to her mother’s taste. Roses filled the courtyard, with two tables outside and four inside.

Years ago, business had been slow. But as Dongcheng’s film industry grew, tourists flocked in. A famous blogger had once stumbled upon the café, praising it online. Soon, it became a hotspot.

Jiang He used to come often, but as crowds grew, she visited less. Now, she only came during off-season for meals or tea.

Today, she arrived late, having eaten lunch near the gym. Zhou Yi had arranged to meet her here before their evening plans, so she came early to find Yu Wei.

Zhou Yi was absorbed in her tablet game. Only when the sofa dipped beside her did she look up. “Boss,” she chirped, then returned to her game.

Seeing Jiang He silent, she glanced again, distracted. “Join me for the next round?”

“Help me rank up,” she added with a grin.

“No.” Jiang He’s voice was weary. She lay her head on the table, closing her eyes.

Zhou Yi panicked, still playing. “Hey, don’t sleep! Help me rank!”

“I’m tired. Don’t bother me.” Jiang He’s tone was calm, almost serene. “And stop shouting. If you do, I’ll leave.”

She added, “No matter what happens, don’t disturb my sleep.”