After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 67

By the time Pei Jiuyao arrived at the variety show’s filming location, it was already the second night. Her susceptibility period had just passed; her emotions were still unstable. She’d taken another suppressant shot, put on her pheromone-monitoring wristband, and only then stepped out of the nanny van.

This stop was in City A, a cultural capital said to be the birthplace of humanity’s “new thought”—a modern-day blend of Italy and Rome.

The production team had rented a villa. When Pei Jiuyao walked in, the others were drawing lots for their rooms.

The six cast members noticed her return, paused what they were doing, and greeted her. Fang Qimeng immediately walked over, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

“I heard you were in your susceptibility period?” Fang Qimeng whispered. “Feeling better?”

Pei Jiuyao nodded. “It’s over.”

“Tsk.” Fang Qimeng squeezed her shoulder. “Being young really is a blessing—energy for days.”

“But now that Jiuyao’s back, we have seven people. How do we pick rooms?” Ding Yinghan, as always, was the first to ask the procedural question.

A director off to the side quietly said to Pei Jiuyao, “Since you just came out of susceptibility, you should take the single room.”

“There’s a single room?” Su Yin leaned in. “Director, you can’t play favorites! Why are the rest of us stuck with doubles?”

Knowing Su Yin’s background, the director team exchanged uneasy looks before cautiously answering, “Uh, well, because Jiuyao has special circumstances.”

“It’s fine,” Pei Jiuyao cut off Su Yin before she could say more. “I’m feeling perfectly well. Let’s draw lots like everyone else—makes it fair.”

As she walked over, Chi Yang was standing in the corner talking to Jingyi. When she saw Pei Jiuyao approach, she turned her head slightly, the tips of her ears tinged red.

She gave Pei Jiuyao a small nod and a faint smile.

Pei Jiuyao returned it stiffly.

Her heart instantly fell out of rhythm. She had only returned to clear things up with Chi Yang. But facing her in person again, she didn’t know where to even begin.

It was ridiculous.

Thankfully, the program’s flow filled the awkward silence clinging to her.

When the director brought over the silks for the room draw, Pei Jiuyao finally had something to do with her restless hands.

The director reiterated the rules: “Whoever pulls the same piece of silk shares a room.”

Pei Jiuyao reached in and grabbed one at random.

Chi Yang let out a soft laugh and reached in too, feeling around several times before selecting one end.

Then the remaining five cast members took turns gripping the ends inside the box. At the director’s countdown, they all pulled outward together.

Ding Yinghan burst out laughing first. “Ah! I got the single room!”

Everyone looked over. Fang Qimeng sighed, “Yinghan’s luck really is unbeatable.”

The six remaining silk strips all had adjustable knots—you couldn’t tell who was paired with whom yet.

Pei Jiuyao froze for a moment, then hurried to untie hers. She wanted to share a room with Chi Yang but she also didn’t. Sharing a room meant that conversation was unavoidable.

She knew she couldn’t run from it forever, but.

But right now, she really did want to run.

Even after a full day, her mind was still a mess. She still couldn’t accept that during her susceptibility period—when she was half-conscious—she had mistaken someone else for Chi Yang.

If someone told her, “I was drunk and mistook another woman for my girlfriend,” Pei Jiuyao would have immediately written them off as scum.

What kind of garbage excuse was that?

If she really wanted to avoid Chi Yang, the ideal roommate would’ve been Ding Yinghan. Yinghan was an Alpha, and she had a girlfriend—neutral, safe territory.

But Ding Yinghan had the single room.

Which meant, she could only hope to room with Fang Qimeng. Fang Qimeng was easygoing, and they got along well.

Just as she was thinking she had found the optimal solution, she heard Fang Qimeng crow in delight from across the room: “Got it! Jingyi and I are together!”

Pei Jiuyao turned to see Jingyi give a gentle, modest smile.

Fang Qimeng looked ecstatic. “To think I get to room with the nation’s first-love sweetheart from our generation—what an honor.”

Well. That was that.

Pei Jiuyao lifted her gaze and accidentally met Chi Yang’s eyes. She looked away reflexively.

Chi Yang thought she was shy and urged, “Jiuyao, hurry up and untie yours. Used your hands too much during susceptibility? No strength left?”

The innuendo hit Pei Jiuyao so hard she almost choked. The other three froze in place.

Yang Ling moved faster, pretending not to hear anything. Su Yin looked annoyed but couldn’t lash out.

Pei Jiuyao clenched her jaw and sped up her untying—still confused about why Chi Yang was teasing her like that.

Because of that one sentence, her thoughts tangled even further.

After the last time they had marked each other, Chi Yang might think their relationship had progressed. But she had done something.

Pei Jiuyao was still dazed when she suddenly heard Su Yin squeal, “Untied!”

“Wow, I’m paired with Jiuyao!” Su Yin looked thrilled. “We really are destined!”

The knot loosened, and the silk strip split neatly into two threads:

—one linking Pei Jiuyao and Su Yin
—one linking Chi Yang and Yang Ling.

For these four, the best possible pairing had been Yang Ling.

Pei Jiuyao stared at her silk like her soul had left her body.

Absolute apocalypse-level start.

She had already spent three days mistaking someone else for Chi Yang, and now she had to share a room with Su Yin. Chi Yang was going to murder her. Even ignoring emotions—Chi Yang might very well carve out her gland again. It wasn’t like she hadn’t done it before.

Could it be that Pei Jiuyao had reached the original host’s death route after all?

She looked toward Chi Yang and saw her gazing darkly at the silk in her hand.

Pei Jiuyao shivered.

She’d been telling Chi Yang every day that she needed to work on her possessiveness and paranoia. But Pei Jiuyao wasn’t sure she could change Chi Yang at all.

Bringing this up again would only highlight that the whole thing had been her fault to begin with. Whatever Chi Yang did in response could hardly be called excessive.

Setting down the silk cloth, Su Yin was still blissfully unaware of how serious the situation was. She bounced over with a bright smile and grabbed Pei Jiuyao’s arm. “Jiuyao, we’re basically fated, don’t you think?”

Pei Jiuyao’s mouth twitched. She watched as Chi Yang tossed the cloth aside and walked over to speak with the production team. “Jiuyao and I are both Alphas. Yang Ling and Su Yin are Omegas. It’s better if we split the rooms.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Su Yin had finally, for once, landed on the “correct” side of the rules and had no intention of letting it go. “We’re not even sharing a bed.”

Chi Yang turned, arms crossed, fixing Su Yin with a stare until the girl finally wilted under the pressure and lowered her head. Only then did Chi Yang say, “Jiuyao’s susceptibility period just ended. It’s not appropriate for her to stay with an Omega.”

Su Yin’s head jerked up. “You’re in your susceptibility period?”

“Why else did you think she missed the first two episodes?” Chi Yang’s tone was cool.

Explosive as both personalities were, sharing a room with Chi Yang was still safer than sharing one with Su Yin. At least the chances of things blowing up would be slower.

Pei Jiuyao spoke softly, “My susceptibility period, I’m still not very stable.”

The production team felt completely played with, yet none of them dared say a word. Faced with two top-tier stars, one resource-backed favorite, and one bona fide powerhouse—the sitting CEO of the Minghe Corporation—the director had no choice but to nod furiously.

Of the four of them, one was delighted, one nervous and conflicted, one wearing a dark expression, and one pretending none of this concerned her. And just like that, the room assignment issue was “perfectly” resolved.

While packing the room, Chi Yang came over to help. Pei Jiuyao flinched away, gripping the bedsheet as if trying to hide.

Chi Yang’s hand paused. She didn’t take it personally. In fact, she leaned in a little closer, fingers catching Pei Jiuyao’s arm as she asked, eyes bright with a smile, “What’s wrong? Still feeling unwell?”

Pei Jiuyao couldn’t bring herself to meet her gaze. After straightening the sheets, she quietly murmured, “Mm.”

Outwardly calm, inwardly in complete chaos.

How on earth was she supposed to tell her the truth?

Her fingers tightened around the duvet cover—when suddenly, Chi Yang wrapped her arms around her waist from behind, hugging her gently. “Why are you spacing out?”

Pei Jiuyao jolted and fumbled to push her away. “The cameras!”

“Don’t worry, I covered them. Completely.” Chi Yang tilted her head up, light brown eyes shimmering like polished amber. “Yaoyao, I thought you weren’t coming.”

She had fully expected Pei Jiuyao to avoid her after waking up. After all, she hadn’t even caught her yet, and she’d already run back to help her through her susceptibility period without warning.

She thought Pei Jiuyao would be angry at her for taking the initiative. Instead, she was shy.

Ridiculously cute.

Chi Yang leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

She had no idea that shyness wasn’t the issue at all.

Right now, Pei Jiuyao felt a sharp, sinking sense of betrayal—so strong that until she came clean, she couldn’t even bring herself to be close to Chi Yang.

Her body stiffened. “My susceptibility period still isn’t stable. You should—”

What right did she have to ask anything of Chi Yang?

After a moment’s hesitation, she tried again. “We. I should probably—”

Chi Yang froze, then let go. “I know, I know. I won’t cross any lines on the show.”

“But when I asked to switch rooms earlier, you’re not mad, right?” Chi Yang leaned forward slightly, posture soft. “I know I sounded a bit forceful, but that’s only because of your susceptibility period. I couldn’t let you room with Su Yin.”

“Of course not.” Pei Jiuyao didn’t even understand why Chi Yang felt the need to explain. She was the one who should be falling apart right now.

“Switching rooms isn’t a big deal,” she said.

Then what was a big deal?

Pei Jiuyao thought bitterly: Compared to Chi Yang locking herself away, her own mistake—going through her susceptibility period with someone else—couldn’t even begin to compare.

She might as well find a block of tofu and knock herself out with it.

But Chi Yang looked genuinely happy. She didn’t know where Pei Jiuyao’s boundaries were—only that Jiuyao disliked her possessive tendencies. So, she habitually asked about everything, big or small, to avoid upsetting her.

As long as Pei Jiuyao wasn’t angry, that was already a huge step forward.

“You didn’t eat dinner, right? How about I make you some noodles?” Chi Yang reached out and rubbed her lower belly with concern.

Pei Jiuyao tossed the comforter aside. “No need, I’ll just eat something instant.”

“How is that trouble? I’m still chasing you.” Chi Yang laughed softly. “And your stomach’s bad. Don’t eat junk.”

She turned and headed for the kitchen. Pei Jiuyao followed, compelled by a vague desire to help—anything to soften the panic and guilt twisting in her chest.

But she knew that helping with chores wouldn’t ease it. Honesty would. Taking responsibility would. She just hadn’t found the chance to say it.

So, she stood beside Chi Yang instead—washing the vegetables, heating the water, and shielding her with the back of her hand when the oil popped during the stir-fry.

It had been a long time since she treated Chi Yang with such gentle care. As Chi Yang cooked the noodles, she glanced at the woman beside her and, for a fleeting moment, felt transported back to their long-ago days of living together.

Warmth bloomed quietly in her chest—tinged with sweetness.

Was it because of the susceptibility period? It seemed not only had she not minded, she’d actually enjoyed it.

She liked Pei Jiuyao’s pheromones. She liked her body. The realization made Chi Yang’s heart skip uncontrollably.

It had only been a year, yet it felt as if they’d lost each other for so much longer. But fortunately, no matter how far this person drifted, Chi Yang had managed to bring her back.

Even if Pei Jiuyao still hadn’t said yes.

Chi Yang’s gaze fell on the hand shielding her from the hot oil. Her thoughts stirred.

Pei Jiuyao was so impossibly good. How could she ever bear to let her go? Even remembering the things she’d said before made her chest ache.

She never wanted to lose her again.

It wasn’t until Pei Jiuyao murmured, “That’s about enough,” that Chi Yang finally pulled her drifting thoughts back.

After dinner, when it was time to sleep, Pei Jiuyao climbed into bed first. Chi Yang switched off the lights and said softly into the darkness, “Good night.”

Pei Jiuyao was hugging the blanket when she heard Chi Yang’s slippers padding across the floor, then a bit of rustling. After a while, Chi Yang slipped under the covers as well. She turned toward Pei Jiuyao and asked, “Yaoyao, are you asleep?”

“A little tired,” Pei Jiuyao replied quietly.

Chi Yang’s eyes gleamed unnervingly bright in the dark, and Pei Jiuyao didn’t dare look for long.

The night breeze was cool, occasionally making the window frame emit a dull crack, the curtains swaying with it.

The darkness felt endless, breaths light and maddeningly close. Only the faint red and green lights blinking from the charger port across the room kept Pei Jiuyao conscious.

They drifted in that oppressive silence for a long time before Pei Jiuyao finally felt she still needed to make things clear.

Slowly, she said, “Chi Yang.”

Chi Yang shifted slightly and whispered, “What is it? Why aren’t you calling me Xiao Li anymore?”

“Chi Yang,” Pei Jiuyao repeated.

“Mm-hmm, I’m here.” Even without the nickname, Chi Yang was just happy to talk.

Pei Jiuyao asked, “Have you been filming a variety show these past few days?”

“Of course,” Chi Yang said, puzzled. “Why?”

“My susceptibility period earlier,” Pei Jiuyao paused, unable to continue.

Chi Yang froze.

So she wasn’t calling her Xiao Li because she was angry?

Bringing up the susceptibility period—was this the beginning of an interrogation?

But she’d been treating her so gently just moments ago—so why?

Her heart tightened. Chi Yang’s brain stalled, her vision blurring. Pei Jiuyao’s silhouette in the dark suddenly became hazy.

Pei Jiuyao struggled with the words stuck in her throat, unable to force them out. She pinched her thigh hard, inhaling sharply at the pain.

“I dreamed of you during my susceptibility period,” she finally blurted.

What dream? That is absolutely NOT what you were supposed to tell her!

“And there was this strawberry-scented pheromone, so vivid. It felt real.”

Real, my ass! You’re supposed to stand at attention and accept judgment—confess your sins properly!

“I really thought you came but then you said you were filming the show.” Pei Jiuyao hesitated, then added, “I don’t even know how I got through it.”

So much for honesty! So much for trustworthiness!

Pei Jiuyao, Pei Jiuyao. How dare you claim you “don’t know how” you survived your susceptibility period!

Fine. At least survive tonight.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, you will tell her the truth.

No lies.

Especially not to Chi Yang.

Having steeled herself, Pei Jiuyao sighed softly and added, “Maybe it’s just that we haven’t seen each other in a while.”

As if! What’s next—“I missed you”?

Scumbag!

Pei Jiuyao gripped the edge of the blanket and shrank inward little by little.

Chi Yang’s eyes gradually regained clarity.

So, this wasn’t an interrogation.

She carefully retraced Pei Jiuyao’s words, trying to figure out what she actually meant.

When she said she’d been filming the variety show, she only meant that after leaving Pei Jiuyao’s place, she went straight to the recording location and hadn’t done anything else.

But why did it sound like Pei Jiuyao had no idea she had gone to her place during her susceptibility period?

No way—people don’t lose memories during a susceptibility period!

So, Pei Jiuyao was treating her so nicely because she felt GUILTY?

Because she thought she’d slept with another woman during her susceptibility period?

Chi Yang was completely stunned.