Mistaken ‘O’ is a Crazy Gorgeous Boss - Chapter 31

Qiandong Mall was very close to Xinyu Garden, a newly developed large shopping center near the residential complex, Qiandong Residence.

Qu Zhen hurried along, so anxious that she hadn’t even fastened the buttons on her coat. While trying to call Shen Zhikou back, she split her phone screen to book a ride.

The call remained unanswered, and Qu Zhen’s heart leaped into her throat.

Fortunately, the ride-hailing car was nearby. By the time she reached the security office downstairs, the vehicle had already arrived at the gate. Qu Zhen quickly got in and rushed toward her destination, never giving up on calling Shen Zhikou along the way.

During the ten-minute journey, she made a total of forty calls, each one went unanswered, without exception.

Because of this, Qu Zhen grew increasingly anxious and worried. Her brow furrowed tightly as she repeatedly urged the driver to go faster. During the minute they were stopped at a red light, she even considered getting out and running the rest of the way.

“Don’t worry, young lady, we’ll be there soon,” the beta female driver in the driver’s seat reassured her. “How could two legs possibly outrun four wheels?”

“Auntie, please hurry a little more.”

The car, already nearing the speed limit, raced through the darkness. When they arrived at the underground parking garage of Qiandong Mall, Qu Zhen hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, not even taking the time to thank the driver.

The underground garage was vast and quiet, the lighting dimmer than outside.

Qu Zhen ran from the outer area to the center but saw no sign of Shen Zhikou’s car. Only when she searched along the right-side lane did she finally spot the vehicle in the farthest corner.

The black car almost blended into the dark night, like a beast concealed by the dusk.

She rushed over, knocked on the window, and repeatedly called out to the omega inside, sometimes calling her “sister,” other times using her full name, Shen Zhikou. There was no response from inside the car for a long time. Just as she calmed down enough to consider calling the Omega Protection Center for rescue, the car door, which had shown no signs of opening, suddenly cracked open a sliver with the sound of the unlock button.

Qu Zhen pulled it open and saw the omega in the back seat, her cheeks flushed a deep red. Her heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled.

On the way there, she had guessed that Shen Zhikou was likely having an episode, and the scene before her confirmed her suspicion. After quickly catching the omega, who nearly collapsed, Qu Zhen closed the car door again to prevent any scent from leaking out.

Inside the cramped car, it felt as if a shower of lily-of-the-valley blossoms had fallen. The usually elegant fragrance had now become intensely rich. The omega, always as cool and detached as snow, now sat on Qu Zhen’s lap, her eyes dazed and filled with a captivating allure.

“Zhenzhen…” Shen Zhikou’s eyes were red at the corners, her entire body burning like fire. “I heard… your voice.”

Qu Zhen released her scent to soothe the omega in her arms, her gaze filled with heartache and sorrow.

“I’m sorry, sister, I came too late.”

Shen Zhikou could barely make out the alpha’s words. Her pupils were unfocused, like those of someone who had lost their sight. The heat coursing through her limbs was more scorching than the fires of hell, causing every inch of her exposed skin to glow with an unnatural crimson.

Having suffered from this illness for six years, she had long lost count of how many similar episodes she had endured alone.

The symptoms of pheromone dysregulation syndrome were far too unique. As an S-class Omega, the pain and torment she had to endure were many times greater than that of other Omegas. In the past, she would lock herself away, immersing in an icy pool filled with ice cubes, then blindfold her eyes with a silk ribbon and cuff her hands to prevent self-harm and self-destruction.

She would faint from the pain, only to be jolted awake by it again, repeating this cycle over and over until the agony subsided, until the next wave descended.

Xiang Xi had repeatedly advised her to try accepting the matching with another S-class Alpha, as it was the only path laid out before her.

Ordinary people only knew that the compatibility between S-class Alphas and Omegas tended to be high, but her medical team, based on the latest confidential data, had discovered that once a complete mark was established between S-class Alphas and Omegas, regardless of their previous compatibility, it would gradually rise to around 95%.

This meant that for her, as long as she chose an S-class Alpha to accept the match and undergo a complete mark, she could be cured of the illness that had tormented her for so long.

The number of S-class Alphas was extremely rare, one in ten thousand.

But for the powerful Shen family, finding an S-class Alpha was as easy as turning over a hand.

Her attending physician, Xiang Xi, had already found five S-class Alphas, all outstanding elites in their respective fields. Only after bringing them before her did Xiang Xi calmly present the new data and suggest she try accepting the match.

The atmosphere froze. Xiang Xi, rejected without hesitation, couldn’t understand her actions.

Because they both knew clearly that refusing to try meant only death awaited her. Her body could no longer hold on; time was running out for her.

“Sister, sister-”

As Shen Zhikou buried herself against Qu Zhen’s neck and shoulder, kissing her, Qu Zhen tried to awaken her rationality. Shen Zhikou stopped and looked up at the Alpha who had spoken, her bandaged hands tightly encircling Qu Zhen’s waist.

In that confined space, the two were pressed closely together, intimate and inseparable.

“Zhenzhen…” Shen Zhikou murmured softly, “It hurts… it hurts so much.”

The person in her arms grew increasingly feverish. The heartache in Qu Zhen’s eyes was so full it seemed about to overflow. “A temporary mark, would that be alright? Sister.”

Shen Zhikou pecked a kiss at the corner of Qu Zhen’s lips, rested her forehead against Qu Zhen’s chin, then buried her face back into Qu Zhen’s neck and shoulder, breathing rapidly like someone deprived of oxygen desperately seeking air.

“Touch…” Shen Zhikou grasped Qu Zhen’s hand, “Zhenzhen, touch me.”

All signs indicated that the Omega was now barely conscious, teetering on the edge of losing rationality. Qu Zhen coaxed her gently with soft words, yielding to her every whim, allowing her to guide Qu Zhen’s hand to explore other places.

From the slender willow-like waist to the soft, towering peaks of snow, Qu Zhen’s face grew increasingly flushed, her mind hazy as if shrouded in fog.

“Sister.”

Shen Zhikou looked up to kiss her again, pecking lightly like a small animal, first the tip of her chin, then along the jawline up to her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. The scattered kisses and the movements of her hands were incessant, while the scent of hyacinth in the air soared relentlessly.

“Zhenzhen…” Shen Zhikou turned her face away, blinking in confusion. “Where’s your response?”

Qu Zhen understood her meaning and kissed her lips before Shen Zhikou completely lost control. Her kiss was unpracticed, a tangle of lips until the woman in her arms melted into a puddle of spring water.

As the restraint loosened, the clumsy, earnest person repeated once more: “Sister, may I give you a temporary mark?”

The Omega’s dark curls cascaded down, her exquisite and captivating features like a painting. Instead of answering yes or no, she took Qu Zhen’s hand and pressed it against her vulnerable scent gland, signaling her to remove the long-expired and useless scent-blocking patch.

The third temporary mark allowed Qu Zhen to witness Shen Zhikou’s loss of control.

As her teeth sank into the gland, Shen Zhikou trembled like a small animal caught by the throat, her slender, pale swan-like neck tensing. She wrapped her arms tightly around the alpha’s waist, surrendering to the overwhelming pleasure that consumed her until she completely lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep.

The pleasure and effects of a temporary mark are mutual. After it ended, Qu Zhen couldn’t help but gently kiss the cheek of the woman in her arms, her gaze still holding traces of lingering possessiveness.

Once the pheromone concentration in the car had decreased and stabilized, Qu Zhen’s rationality gradually returned, and she reverted to her shy, puppy-like self. She lowered her head to help Shen Zhikou fasten the undone buttons of her shirt, her ears burning red as she carefully secured each one. Only then did she take off her coat and wrap it snugly around the fragile Omega.

…

Driving back home, Qu Zhen helped Shen Zhikou freshen up and stayed by her side without leaving for a moment.

Shen Zhikou slept deeply.

By the time she woke, it was already the next day. The early morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Qu Zhen, who had stayed by the bedside all night, now slumped asleep beside her.

A slight rustle quickly roused Qu Zhen. Still a bit dazed, she met Shen Zhikou’s gaze and remembered what had happened.

“Sister, you’re awake,” she said. “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Shen Zhikou shook her head. “No, thank you for coming to find me, Zhenzhen.”

“Don’t thank me. It’s what I should do,” Qu Zhen said honestly. “Besides, it was my fault for not being by your side in time.”

“It wasn’t your fault. The onset of this condition has always been irregular and unpredictable.”

“Will you still need to go on your business trip, sister?”

“Yes,” she explained. “It’s also because of this condition that I’ve stayed at Streeep. There are very few companies that accept employees with pheromone dysregulation syndrome. Streeep offers good benefits in all aspects. Although business trips are frequent, it should improve after the New Year’s work adjustments.”

Qu Zhen lowered her eyes and asked, “When will you be heading to the airport, sister?”

“Two in the afternoon.”

“Then I’ll go pack your luggage,” Qu Zhen said, standing up. “I’ll make breakfast first.”

Shen Zhikou called out to her, “Zhenzhen.”

“Yes?”

“Stay and lie with me a little longer.”

Hearing this, Qu Zhen’s mind replayed the scenes from inside the car the previous night, her fair cheeks gradually flushing. But with their parting imminent, she was reluctant to let go of Shen Zhikou, and she truly hadn’t rested well either.

Finding many reasons to convince herself, Qu Zhen took off her fluffy sleepwear and got into bed.

She lay flat on the right side, maintaining a neither too close nor too distant space between them. Just as she was about to turn onto her side, the Omega beside her shifted closer.

Drawing from experience, Qu Zhen knew that after a temporary mark, an Omega would become especially dependent on her alpha. After a moment’s hesitation, she turned and embraced Shen Zhikou.

“Goodnight, sis.”

“Mhm.”

…

At one in the afternoon, on the eve of their parting, Qu Zhen was unusually quiet.

When the moment of separation truly arrived and Shen Zhikou hugged her, Qu Zhen held her tightly.

“Sis, see you on Friday.”

“I won’t be late this time,” Shen Zhikou said. “See you on Friday.”

Originally, Qu Zhen had wanted to drive Shen Zhikou to the airport, but Shen Zhikou declined, citing the rain outside. Left with no choice, Qu Zhen could only watch wistfully as Shen Zhikou departed.

The living room felt empty, the lingering scent of lily of the valley slowly fading. Left behind, Qu Zhen turned off the still-playing movie and sat on the sofa, earnestly pondering the questions in her heart.

Realizing that mere contemplation wouldn’t solve the problem, she went to the guest room and dug out that bestselling book on love to read.

She was usually patient when reading, but after flipping through it repeatedly without finding the key insight, she picked up her phone, intending to seek advice from Z, who was married and experienced.

[Qiye Zhenzhen: Z, I have a question I’d like to ask you.]

[Qiye Zhenzhen: If it’s not too intrusive, I wanted to ask how you confirmed your feelings of attraction, or rather, how you knew you liked someone?]

She expected a reply from Z later, but the response came surprisingly fast.

[Z: I remember you told me before that you’ve been in a relationship. How did you confirm it back then? Or rather, what made you decide to give it a try with that person?]

Reading the reply, Qu Zhen blinked slowly.

She had never told anyone the reason her previous relationship began. Seeing Z’s question, she thought back, pondered, and began typing her response.

[Qiye Zhenzhen: There was a calico stray cat at our school. I really like fluffy little animals, so I often fed it and even built a cat shelter with my roommate. At one point, the cat suddenly disappeared, and my roommates and I spent our free time searching the campus and surrounding areas for it. The person who found it was my ex-girlfriend. After bringing the cat back, she told me she knew I was worried and had been searching for a long time too, even falling and getting hurt in the process. At the time, a lot of people around us were egging us on. After saying that, she confessed to me again, and I… hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed to give it a try.]

Back then, Su Qi had pursued her persistently for four months, and Qu Zhen hadn’t wavered. But when she saw Su Qi holding the cat with injured hands, something inside her softened slightly.

Amid the flowers, fairy lights, and the crowd’s encouragement, coupled with her own reserved and somewhat oblivious nature, she mistook that flicker of gratitude for a faint, hazy hint of affection. Thus began the relationship and the subsequent betrayal and heartbreak.

The WeChat chat screen remained silent, no reply coming through. Still waiting, Qu Zhen had no idea what waves her answer had stirred.

In the pouring rain, a top-tier luxury car drove steadily through the mountains.

Inside the car, Shen Zhikou, seated in the back, stared expressionlessly at Qu Zhen’s reply. She remained silent for a long time, her eyes frosty, the Buddhist beads on her wrist seeming to emanate a chill.

[Qiye Zhenzhen: I’m going to go read for now. You can reply whenever you’re free. Bye.]

Shen Zhikou’s gaze shifted from the screen to the car window. The heavy rain battered the flowers and grass, and in the woods, a stray cat darted past, its calico pattern somewhat resembling the one Qu Zhen had loved.

Like the calico cat she had rescued from an abuser and returned, like the calico cat that became the catalyst for Qu Zhen’s romance.