After Transmigrating into a Ridiculous Alpha, I Saved My Aloof Omega Wife - Chapter 66

Cheng Jianli lowered her eyes. Her features were delicate, her skin pale, and her slender neck traced a graceful line, soft yet coolly detached, standing out conspicuously in the bustling night market.

The group debated animatedly before settling on playing cards, choosing between Landlord, Texas Hold’em, or Double Dummy.

Jiang Muyan turned to Cheng Jianli and asked, “Teacher Cheng, which one can you play?”

Cheng Jianli replied, “I only know how to play Landlord.”

Tang Yu immediately interjected, “Landlord won’t work, there are five of us, and it’s only for three players.” He pulled out two decks from under the table. “Let’s play Double Dummy.”

Cheng Jianli didn’t refuse. “Alright.”

“What are the rules?” Jiang Muyan propped her chin on her hand, her dark hair now loose and cascading softly down her back, carrying a faint citrusy fragrance. “There are many variations of Double Dummy which one are we playing?”

She knew Cheng Jianli was just going along to avoid dampening the mood, agreeing to whatever was suggested.

Silently, Jiang Muyan resolved that even if Cheng Jianli lost, she wouldn’t let her drink, she’d take the penalty for her wife instead.

Tang Yu explained, “We’ll play with trump and secondary suits. There are four suits match pairs if you can, otherwise play the highest card. The first to play their hand becomes the Landlord.”

Cheng Jianli didn’t quite grasp the rules after one explanation, but Jiang Muyan quickly reassured her with a playful blink, “Don’t worry, Teacher Cheng. If you lose, I’ll drink for you.”

There was no way she’d let Cheng Jianli touch alcohol.

Cheng Jianli gave a slight nod. “Mm.”

The first round began with Jiang Muyan, Cheng Jianli, Luo Jiajia, Tang Yu, and the class sports committee at the table.

Luo Jiajia played her hand first, with hearts as the trump suit. Tang Yu, her teammate, joined her in a ruthless “slaughter,” their coordination seamless as they swiftly crushed Jiang Muyan’s side.

Cheng Jianli ended up with the fewest points and had to drink three glasses.

Without hesitation, Jiang Muyan picked up the cups and downed them.

Tang Yu warned, “Don’t get drunk, Young Miss.”

“How could I?” Jiang Muyan retorted defiantly. “Last time we drank, didn’t I outdrink you?”

Tang Yu countered, “That was just me. This time, there are others too.”

Jiang Muyan was just putting up a front, she was already slightly tipsy from celebrating their victory earlier, having shared several rounds with the mixed relay team.

Just like in the afternoon, after a few words, a dull ache crept up the back of her neck. She frowned, rubbing it briefly before ignoring the discomfort. “Again.”

Another round, and once more, Luo Jiajia played her hand first with Tang Yu as her teammate. Their synergy remained flawless, and Jiang Muyan’s entire strategy was read like an open book.

They lost again.

Jiang Muyan’s expression darkened as she drank, then started the third round. This time, Tang Yu played his hand first, with Luo Jiajia as his partner. Even the usually composed Cheng Jianli couldn’t help but frown. “What’s going on? Why are you two always teammates?”

Luo Jiajia teased, “Fate has made us teammates.”

Jiang Muyan: “…”

Cheng Jianli: “…”

The clamor around them grew louder as the night deepened. Above, the golden moon emerged from behind the clouds, resembling an ancient piece of jade.

Their table kept playing round after round, perhaps over a dozen until Jiang Muyan finally couldn’t drink anymore.

She slumped in the chair, cheeks flushed, arms limp, her eyes heavy with drunkenness.

Cheng Jianli looked at Jiang Muyan in this state and put down the cards in her hand. “We can’t keep playing. Jiang Muyan is already drunk.”

Luo Jiajia was also quite tipsy. She let out a drunken hiccup. “I don’t think I can keep going either. I just wanna sleep.”

Out of the five of them, only Cheng Jianli was sober, and with it being almost midnight, it was time to call it a night.

Cheng Jianli cleared the table, then nudged Jiang Muyan beside her. “Jiang Muyan, wake up.”

Jiang Muyan was still dazed, her eyes barely open. Cheng Jianli helped her up. “I’ll call Uncle Liu. It’s too late, we’re going home now.”

Hearing Cheng Jianli’s voice, Jiang Muyan first rubbed her eyes, then immediately nuzzled into her neck, mumbling, “Wife!”

The moment that “long-lost” term of endearment reached her ears, Cheng Jianli’s earlobes instantly turned red, and even her usually faint brows took on a vivid hue. “…Don’t call me that.”

Cheng Jianli had noticed that Jiang Muyan only called her that when drunk or unconscious. What kind of habit was this?

Jiang Muyan pressed against Cheng Jianli’s neck, her exposed collarbone peeking from her loosened collar. She was even more intoxicated than last time, her lips a deep red. “Wife, hehe… Wife, your voice is so nice!”

Cheng Jianli covered Jiang Muyan’s mouth calmly. “That’s enough.”

With alcohol clouding her mind, Jiang Muyan broke free from Cheng Jianli’s hold and whined indignantly, “Why won’t you let me call you that?!”

Cheng Jianli replied, “There are a lot of people here.”

“So what? Are you embarrassed that I call you ‘wife’?” Jiang Muyan’s frustration quickly turned rebellious. “I’m gonna say it anyway, wife, wife, wife, wife, wife…”

Cheng Jianli: “…”

Her face flushed uncontrollably. In the past, she would’ve just rolled her eyes and told Jiang Muyan to stop. But this time, for some reason, her heart raced, and her mind felt strangely hazy.

She hadn’t drunk anything, yet she felt intoxicated.

Luckily, the place was noisy enough, and everyone else was too drunk to notice what Jiang Muyan was saying. Cheng Jianli steadied herself. “You’ve had too much. I’ll call Uncle Liu to pick you up.”

With that, she dialed Uncle Liu’s number.

But after two tries, he still didn’t answer. Who knew what he was doing?

After her outburst, Jiang Muyan started feeling a headache coming on. Boneless, she leaned against Cheng Jianli, then pressed her face to the back of her neck. Licking her damp, red lips, she murmured, “Wife,  you smell so good back here.”

Beneath the scent-blocking patch, a faint mango fragrance lingered sweet, carried by the breeze, enveloping Jiang Muyan. For some reason, the ache at the nape of her neck grew sharper.

Ignoring Jiang Muyan’s words, Cheng Jianli helped her out of the night market and under a large tree by the roadside.

Moonlight spilled onto the clean pavement, and scattered clouds diluted the deep amber glow of the orange moon.

Uncle Liu still hadn’t answered. After some thought, Cheng Jianli decided to hail a cab to take Jiang Muyan home.

Struggling to support her, she scanned the street for any passing taxis.

The autumn evening breeze was pleasantly cool, and the streetlights cast a soft orange curtain of light. Jiang Muyan’s profile was tinged with a golden hue as she leaned against Cheng Jianli’s shoulder, suddenly whispering, “Wifey…”

Cheng Jianli instinctively responded, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Muyan murmured drowsily, “Your nape smells so sweet and fragrant.”

Cheng Jianli replied softly, “It’s the scent of pheromones.”

Seemingly not hearing her, Jiang Muyan frowned uncomfortably again. “But the back of my neck hurts so much,” she said, reaching up to touch her nape, which was burning hot. The slightest touch sent sharp pain radiating through her. “It hurts!”

Noticing Jiang Muyan’s body stiffen, Cheng Jianli said, “Don’t move for now.”

Jiang Muyan dazedly replied, “Okay,” enduring the pain despite her drunken haze. Her glassy eyes grew unfocused as Cheng Jianli frowned and examined the back of her neck.

When Cheng Jianli’s gaze settled on Jiang Muyan’s nape, she froze.

The skin there looked completely different from how it had been that afternoon.

The once fair skin had turned an alarming red, with a cotton-like swelling beneath. The exposed area was translucent, filled with faint, swirling traces of pheromones.

This was a sight Cheng Jianli knew all too well. After a few stunned seconds, she gripped Jiang Muyan’s shoulders, her expression tense for the first time. “Are you, about to present?”

Jiang Muyan’s fingers were scorching, her entire body enveloped in the searing heat from her nape. She shook her head weakly. “What’s presenting, wifey?”

Cheng Jianli was almost certain now. Calmly, she said, “You can’t present out here. There might be omegas around. If you lose control and mark someone, it’ll be a disaster.”

Jiang Muyan couldn’t understand what Cheng Jianli was saying. All she knew was that her head ached, her neck throbbed, and Cheng Jianli smelled irresistibly sweet.

“Wifey, wifey…” Jiang Muyan clung to Cheng Jianli again, refusing to let go.

She was far more intoxicated than last time alcohol dulling her mind, though it was possible she didn’t have much of one to begin with.

Nuzzling Cheng Jianli’s ear, she giggled, shy yet shameless. “Wifey, let’s get a hotel tonight. I don’t wanna do it at home.”

Cheng Jianli’s face flushed crimson at those words, and she nearly shoved Jiang Muyan off in embarrassment.

Jiang Muyan’s phrasing was mortifying. Cheng Jianli’s burning cheeks betrayed her composure until Jiang Muyan whispered again by her ear, “Wifey!”

Wait.

That reminded Cheng Jianli of something.

Jiang Muyan was likely about to present tonight. Leaving her on the streets could lead to chaos by morning. A taxi wasn’t safe either if she presented in one, it would be even worse.

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Jianli steadied herself. “Let’s go to a hotel.”

Hearing this, Jiang Muyan’s eyes gleamed with desire, yet she feigned shyness. “Wifey, you’re in such a hurry…”

Cheng Jianli deadpanned, “Yes, I’m in a hurry. I’m desperate. Let’s go now.”

Drunk and slumped against Cheng Jianli, Jiang Muyan winced as another dull ache pulsed through her nape. Cheng Jianli caught her hand before she could scratch it.

Based on her experience, differentiation usually takes about two hours. First, there’s intense pain at the back of the neck, then part of the transparent gland becomes visible before fully swelling up, simultaneously releasing pheromones. The person would then sleep in a daze for a full day and night.

Cheng Jianli brought Jiang Muyan to the nearest hotel. She couldn’t possibly let Jiang Muyan undergo differentiation in some random, questionable place, it had to be at least somewhat clean.

The hotel was opulent and luxurious. Before entering, Cheng Jianli discreetly sprayed pheromone blockers on both Jiang Muyan and herself to dissolve the pheromones around their bodies, preventing others from detecting them.

The front desk was manned by an unremarkable middle-aged man. Seeing Cheng Jianli dragging the drunken Jiang Muyan inside, he asked routinely, “Checking in?”

Cheng Jianli nodded.

The man scrutinized them both neatly dressed in school uniforms. “Do you have your IDs?”

They had come out to celebrate today, how could they have anticipated this?

Cheng Jianli had no choice but to admit, “We didn’t bring them…”

The man replied, “Minors without IDs aren’t allowed to stay.”

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