After Dating the President O, I Turned Into a Puppy-Like Lover - Chapter 41.1

Jiang He and Dan Sirou left the park together.

Their homes lay in opposite directions—one to the left, the other to the right.

They exchanged a knowing glance. It was time to part ways.

Dan Sirou parted her lips, about to say goodbye, when Jiang He spoke first:

“I’ll walk you home.”

Dan Sirou studied her for a moment, then declined politely.

“Thank you, but there’s no need. You should head home early too.”

Though she no longer resisted Jiang He’s presence, she felt their relationship wasn’t close enough for such gestures, especially given the difference between Alpha and Omega.

“It’s fine,” Jiang He replied. “I was planning to visit Fu Jiu anyway.”

Even Jiang He was startled by her own words. She marveled at how easily she could now spin lies—something she had never been good at, nor thought necessary before.

Dan Sirou was left speechless. Since they were headed in the same direction, she found no reason to refuse. She nodded in agreement.

Donghe Park was close to her former home, but her current neighborhood was farther away, over half an hour by bus.

They were lucky. As soon as they reached the bus stop, their line arrived. They boarded one after the other. Since the park was near the starting station, the bus was nearly empty, with plenty of seats at the back.

Dan Sirou chose a window seat. Jiang He sat directly behind her.

The ride was long, and Jiang He wasn’t in a hurry. She leaned against the window and soon drifted into sleep.

The quiet behind her was unusual. Dan Sirou glanced back and caught sight of the girl’s sleeping face—long lashes curled delicately, chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. Asleep, she lacked the aloof sharpness she carried when awake.

She looked gentle, like a cat.

What should have been a fleeting glance lingered unexpectedly.

In that brief moment, Dan Sirou traced every detail—the outline of her face, the curve of her lashes, the softness of her lips.

Then she turned away, gathering her thoughts as the scenery outside flowed past.

Fu Jiu’s home was two stops beyond her own. Jiang He should have gotten off later.

As her stop approached, Dan Sirou leaned back and woke her.

“Jiang He, I’m getting off. Be careful not to miss your stop.”

Jiang He blinked awake, and the first thing she saw was Dan Sirou’s delicate face hovering close. She snapped to attention.

“Oh—right, okay.”

And so, she got off the bus with Dan Sirou.

Dan Sirou: “…”

Watching the girl step off beside her, she felt utterly helpless.

“I promised Fu Jiu we’d go to the supermarket together. She hasn’t left yet,” Jiang He said, blinking innocently, as if the decision had already been made.

Dan Sirou: “…”

Afraid she might refuse, Jiang He added more earnestly, “I don’t want what happened last time to happen again.”

Her expression was serious now, stripped of the slyness from before.

“That was an accident,” Dan Sirou replied. “It’s not unsafe here.”

“But,” Jiang He murmured softly, “I’m already here.”

Dan Sirou smiled faintly and said no more.

She kept her thoughts hidden. Jiang He’s excessive concern stirred a faint wariness in her, though she wasn’t sure if it was real or imagined.

Night had nearly fallen. The sky deepened into indigo, neon lights flickered on, and the streetlamps stretched their shadows long and thin.

The temperature dropped further. The wind cut like knives, stinging their cheeks.

Dan Sirou tightened her coat, hiding half her face in the warmth of her scarf. She glanced sideways—Jiang He’s clothes were plain, yet she seemed unaffected by the cold, her expression calm. Catching Dan Sirou’s gaze, she looked back curiously. Dan Sirou quickly turned away.

“You’re not cold?” she asked, eyes lowered.

“I’m fine,” Jiang He replied.

“I envy you,” Dan Sirou murmured softly.

Jiang He looked at her under the streetlight—serene, graceful, and so easily stirring a protective instinct. Her heart ached with the urge to pull the girl into her arms, to breathe in the fragrance of her hair.

If we hugged, maybe it wouldn’t feel so cold, she thought.

Unknowingly, they neared the entrance to the neighborhood.

It was an old residential complex, its buildings worn with age. Beyond lay an abandoned construction site, untouched for years.

As they walked, the street suddenly plunged into darkness.

The lamps here had failed, leaving the path pitch black, even the ground barely visible.

Without a word, Jiang He pulled out her phone and switched on the flashlight, its harsh beam cutting through the night.

Dan Sirou glanced at her. The girl’s silhouette was sharp, her lips pressed together. Even in silence, she radiated a steady, reassuring presence.

She had to admit—having someone beside her erased her fear. Alone, on such a deserted street, in the dark, even the safest city could chill the spine.

Just as they stepped deeper into the shadows, something darted out. A shrill cry split the air, followed by a scuffle that tumbled to their feet. Dan Sirou instinctively flinched aside, but Jiang He caught her quickly, steadying her, then swept the light downward.

A cat and a dog were locked in combat. The black cat was small and frail, no match for the large stray dog. It wasn’t a fight—it was a beating.

The cat rolled and scrambled desperately, trying to escape.

Still held in Jiang He’s arms, Dan Sirou cried out in distress, “Xiao Hei!”

“Your cat?” Jiang He asked, surprised. She didn’t recall Dan Sirou owning one.

“No,” Dan Sirou said. “It’s a stray from the neighborhood. I’ve fed it a few times.”

So that was it.

Jiang He narrowed her eyes at the dog, then kicked it hard. “Get lost.”

The blow sent the dog tumbling. It scrambled up, baring jagged teeth, glaring viciously at Jiang He.

Dan Sirou’s heart clenched. “Jiang He, don’t provoke it,” she whispered.

Jiang He said nothing, locking eyes with the animal.

Her gaze was unyielding, her presence heavy with the authority of a high-level Alpha. She hadn’t even released her pheromones, yet the pressure was suffocating. Dan Sirou’s glands throbbed, her breath quickening under the weight.

The air itself seemed to heat. Her body reacted instinctively—too sensitive to Jiang He’s dominance. A faint trace of heat stirred within her, the onset of estrus. If not for the suppressant patch at her neck, she would have already succumbed.

Alphas, in ancient times, were like wild beasts—dominant, primal, rulers among animals. Evolution had tempered them with human consciousness, but high-level Alphas still carried that innate power.

Even a stray dog could not withstand it. Under Jiang He’s aura, it faltered, tail tucked, slinking away in defeat.

Jiang He watched it retreat step by step, her body taut, unwilling to lower her guard.

Dan Sirou, however, could no longer bear it. The cold had vanished, replaced by burning heat. Her glands seared, the sensation spreading to her face. She whispered, voice trembling, “Jiang He, it’s gone. You don’t need to—”

She turned away, biting back the words she dared not say: If you keep this up, I’ll go into heat.

Jiang He blinked, startled, then coughed lightly. “Sorry. I forgot.”

“It’s fine,” Dan Sirou said softly.

She knew Jiang He had only wanted to protect the cat. How could she hold it against her?

Yet the incident left her with a profound realization.

So, this is what perfect compatibility feels like.

She had never been this sensitive to an Alpha’s pheromones before. Her self-control felt as fragile as paper, incapable of building any walls.

Once Jiang He reined herself in, the unbearable heat gradually faded. The cold wind rushed against them, clearing her head, and Dan Sirou quickly regained her composure.

The little black cat’s leg had been bitten. It curled into a ball on the ground, trembling pitifully, evoking deep sympathy.

Dan Sirou, who could never bear to see small animals suffer, ignored the dirt and scooped the cat into her arms, gently rubbing its head.

“Do you want to take it home?” Jiang He asked.

“It already has a home,” Dan Sirou replied softly. “Do you remember the place where you found me last time? It was because of this cat that I discovered it. Let’s take it back there.”

The first time she had seen the kitten, she had considered bringing it home. But reality quickly crushed that thought—she could barely manage her own life, let alone care for a pet.

The kitten lived well enough there, sheltered from wind and rain. Today was just an unfortunate accident.

Jiang He nodded. “Alright.”

Together, they took a detour to return the cat.

Animals understood kindness. They knew who meant well and who didn’t.

When Dan Sirou tried to set it down, the black cat clung to her scent, refusing to leave the warmth of her arms. She sighed helplessly and soothed it:

“I’ll come see you tomorrow. Be good.”

Her gaze was tender, her voice flowing like water, soft and gentle, scratching at the heart like wool against skin—ticklish, irresistible.

Jiang He’s heart was already restless.

She remembered vividly how, in the past, she herself had been comforted by Dan Sirou in the same way like this little cat.

Someone like Dan Sirou, if she ever had children, they would be impossibly blessed.

“Jiang He, let’s go.” While Jiang He was lost in thought, Dan Sirou had already stepped outside the enclosure, waiting for her.

Jiang He snapped back. “Mm, okay.”

Returning the cat had changed their route.

The shortcut through the alley was faster, so they took it.

But the streetlights in this area were broken. On the main road, shopfronts and apartment windows cast faint light, keeping the darkness at bay. Here, however, the alley was rarely used. Weeds and moss grew along the edges, and without lamps, it looked eerie and desolate.

“Zhou-ge, when you’re done, let me have a turn.”

A young man’s lazy voice drifted from ahead. In this atmosphere, it carried the tone of a delinquent.

Jiang He and Dan Sirou exchanged a glance, silently listening.

Footsteps echoed, three or four people.

The man continued, “This girl’s pheromones match mine pretty well. I’m about to hit my susceptibility period anyway, heh heh.”

Another man, his voice raspy from smoke, chuckled. “Then she’s yours. I’m not in the mood tonight.”

“Zhou-ge, how can that be?” the first man protested. “You already picked her—”

His words were cut off by muffled cries. A woman’s voice, gagged, could only produce desperate “mm-mm” sounds.

One of the men yanked her sleeve, shoving her roughly. “Damn it, stay still!”

Jiang He understood enough.

She suddenly recalled overhearing a conversation near a restaurant with Sister Wei: reports of forced marking incidents happening frequently.

This must be the gang responsible.

“Jiang He,” Dan Sirou whispered urgently, “let’s call the police.”

“Mm.” Jiang He nodded.

Dan Sirou quickly dialed, while Jiang He kept her eyes fixed on the group.

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.

The woman was shoved to the ground. She scrambled backward, shoes scraping against gravel with sharp, grating sounds. Her resistance was useless. One man grabbed her hair, tearing at her clothes.

Her cries of despair pierced the night. But here, in the darkness, in such a deserted place, there were no passersby to hear.

Jiang He could no longer hold back. “Dan Sirou, stay here. Don’t come out.”

Dan Sirou immediately understood her intent. “Jiang He, I already called the police. They’ll be here soon.”

“There’s no time,” Jiang He said firmly. “By the time they arrive, this Omega will have been violated by all of them.”

Her eyes shone with confidence as she reassured Dan Sirou: “Don’t worry. They can’t touch me.” With that, she strode forward.

“Jiang He!” Dan Sirou called, still anxious. But Jiang He was already gone.

Dan Sirou sighed helplessly. She knew Jiang He’s strength as an Alpha, but at the end of the day, Jiang He was still just one girl. Even with her help, they were only two—and as an Omega, she had no real power to fight.

Jiang He stepped into the open and saw clearly: three men, aside from the captive Omega.

They were clearly repeat offenders. One was the aggressor, while the other two stood guard.

Jiang He deliberately made her footsteps heavy, drawing their attention. One of them muttered a warning to the attacker: “A-Yong, someone’s here.”

Jiang He thought grimly: if she hadn’t stumbled upon this, she would never have imagined such brazen violence in public.

“I know what you’re doing,” Jiang He said coldly. “Let her go. I’ve already called the police, they’ll be here any moment.”

The raspy-voiced man feigned ignorance. “What are you talking about? Never seen someone fooling around outside?”

“Don’t understand?” Jiang He’s voice was icy. “I said the police are on their way.”

The buzz-cut man glanced nervously at his companion. “Zhou-ge.”

Zhou-ge sneered. “There’s no one here. Be smart and leave. Otherwise, before the police arrive, I’ll deal with you first.”

Jiang He’s eyes narrowed, sharp as blades.

The two men refused to move. She ignored them, striding forward, and kicked the attacking Alpha away.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing?”

The raspy man lunged for her shoulder, but Jiang He caught his wrist, flipped him over, and slammed him to the ground.

“Damn!” he cried, writhing in pain, clutching his injured arm. He staggered up and swung a fist at her.

“Yong, get her!” the buzz-cut man shouted.

The three closed in, surrounding her.

Jiang He showed no fear, fighting them head-on.

Two of them carried Alpha pheromones; the buzz-cut was likely a Beta. Unless absolutely necessary, Jiang He avoided releasing her own pheromones. She trusted her skills, she could handle them without it.

She remembered Fu Jiu’s lessons: target weak spots. When pressed, strike hard. The tactic never failed. The raspy man, the strongest of them, went down this way.

The buzz-cut cursed in shock. “Dirty move! You don’t have—damn you, may you—”

His words ended in a sharp crack. Pain twisted his face.

The last one, Yong, realized he couldn’t win. He begged for mercy, but Jiang He gave none. A swift hand strike dropped him to the ground.

Her goal wasn’t to destroy them, only to hold them until the police arrived. Once they were incapacitated, she stopped.

She rushed to the Omega, tearing the tape from her mouth.

“Careful!” the girl gasped, eyes wide, shouting a warning the moment she could speak.

Jiang He turned sharply—just as a heavy stone came crashing down. She dodged instinctively, but even her quick reflexes couldn’t match the ruthless speed of the attack. The rock missed her head but struck her arm, its jagged edge scraping across pale skin, leaving deep, bleeding gashes.

A searing pain shot from her arm straight to her head.

After the pain came numbness, her arm suddenly drained of strength.

The other two lunged at her like rabid dogs. Cornered, Jiang He had no choice but to draw upon her power as a top-level Alpha.

“Here!” Suddenly, Dan Sirou’s voice cut through the chaos.

Jiang He looked up to see Dan Sirou arriving with four or five others. Spotting the commotion, they rushed forward to help.

The three criminals, realizing the tide had turned, tried to flee, but were quickly surrounded by the newcomers.

Moments later, the wail of sirens grew louder. Police officers in full uniform arrived, handcuffing the men.

As witnesses, Jiang He and Dan Sirou accompanied the police to the station to give their statements.

The chaos was finally over.

Later, they learned from the police that the three men were barely in their twenties but already had long criminal records. As juveniles, they had been sent to detention centers multiple times. As adults, the raspy-voiced man had served two years in prison for burglary. After his release, he joined the others in these crimes.

They confessed to being behind the recent string of forced marking incidents. Before each attack, they would spend time scouting, deliberately targeting introverted Omegas too timid to speak out. After assaulting them, they would extort money, knowing the victims were too afraid of stigma to go to the police.

This had been their pattern for months.

Jiang He, having fought, was initially to be reprimanded. But considering her young age, her injuries, and her good intentions, she was released early.