Mistaken ‘O’ is a Crazy Gorgeous Boss - Chapter 4

As the hour hand of the cloud-shaped wall clock reached eight, Qu Zhen stood by the wall next to it. From this angle, she could take in the entire room, including the Omega on the bed.

Though it was only a fleeting glance, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

Every part of the woman was as perfect as if painted with a brush, her peach blossom eyes, petal-like lips, and jade-like bone structure, as pure as snow gathered under the moonlight.

Whether it was the lingering pheromones in the room or the hazy memories of the previous night that refused to fade, Qu Zhen quickly averted her gaze. Her breathing grew increasingly rapid, and her entire body felt as if it were burning.

The room seemed to be affected by her heat, abruptly warming up.

The carefully rehearsed speech she had prepared in the bathroom was now completely forgotten. Qu Zhen stared at the white floor, first offering a standard ninety-degree bow in the Omega’s direction before stumbling through her words, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Hello, my name is Qu Zhen. I’m currently… a senior in the Law School at C University.”

“I deeply apologize for offending you during my secondary differentiation last night. I’m truly sorry, I didn’t… I didn’t mean to do that. According to the recently enacted Omega Individual Protection Act, Article 17, taking advantage of your unconscious and incapacitated state to infringe upon your rights through temporary marking, along with violating Articles 224 and 263 of the Criminal Law, constitutes a Class A offense against an Omega and shall be punished under the stricter provision.”

To this day, Omega remained the most protected group among the three secondary genders.

When an Omega without a fixed Alpha partner entered estrus, they could either use suppressants to endure it or seek help from volunteers at the Omega Protection Association, receiving a temporary mark on their gland to pass through the period painlessly. Beyond that, there were no other options.

If an Omega in estrus, lacking clear consciousness and rationality, fell victim to infringement, the perpetrator would face penalties or even criminal charges depending on the circumstances.

Being punished under this provision meant Qu Zhen would have to spend three days in a detention center, after which a judgment would be made based on the specifics of the case. Thinking about the conditions in the detention center, her breathing gradually steadied, and she clenched her fingers at her sides.

“After I woke up and went to the bathroom, I called for the regulatory officers to come.”

Qu Zhen hung her head, her ears burning red, a belated wave of sorrow washing over her. Though it was an unintentional accident, if the consequences were severe, it could significantly impact her future.

The room was silent. The woman said nothing. In contrast to the Alpha’s flustered and embarrassed state, she remained composed and even seemed to observe the Alpha who had been both pitiful and reckless the night before with mild amusement.

The sandalwood prayer beads that had been tied around her right wrist were torn apart by the Alpha last night, now scattered haphazardly across the floor.

The woman spoke softly, her voice as melodious as a forest spring, incredibly pleasant to the ear. To Qu Zhen, it felt like a kitten’s paw gently scratching at her heart.

“Your pheromone scent is hyacinth.”

She still didn’t dare look up at her, replying in a barely audible, somewhat startled voice.

“Y-yes!” In truth, she hadn’t known what her scent was until now. “It’s… hyacinth!”

“Please bring me my clothes.”

One sentence turned Qu Zhen back into a bubbling pot of boiling water, the persistent flush on her face growing even more pronounced, much like the red clay figures she used to mold during activities.

“O-okay.”

The woman’s clothes were scattered in different spots around the room. The dark blue, stylishly designed suit jacket lay farthest from the bed, a simple white shirt was on the floor beside the soft couch, and a black bodycon skirt had landed near the edge of the carpet in front of the large bed.

Each location hinted at varying degrees of absurdity, as if the woman’s instructions were deliberately helping her recall the temporary mark from the previous night.

Qu Zhen picked them up one by one, her slender, pale fingers tinged with pink. She didn’t dare look too closely, especially after discovering that the top two buttons of the white shirt were missing. Her gaze darted around nervously, trying to dispel the fragmented memories of the night before.

Just the thought of them felt like an intrusion.

She must be staff here for the business conference, and most likely older than me, she thought.

After placing all three items on the edge of the bed, Qu Zhen’s face was still flushed, her voice soft as she said, “Sister, I’ve put them here for you.”

The woman’s tone was suggestive: “Is that all?”

Honest Qu Zhen didn’t catch her meaning.

The woman hinted further: “To your right.”

Qu Zhen, unsure what else there could be, turned nervously to look. The moment she saw those two items, she was so embarrassed she could have performed a groundhog burrowing into the earth on the spot.

The two small pieces lay carelessly tossed in the corner of the carpet, the lace edges clearly torn.

Qu Zhen stiffened like a wooden puppet, waiting for the woman’s next instruction, her throat dry, scratchy, and burning with heat.

Although she had long grown accustomed to her secondary gender as a beta, the knowledge about alphas and omegas she’d learned before differentiation was still quite thorough.

Secondary differentiation in alphas often brings a brief pseudo-estrus, usually lasting only a day or two, though exceptions aren’t unheard of.

During last night’s pseudo-estrus, she had been like an untamed beast, driven by primal desires, ultimately sinking her teeth deep into the omega’s nape to leave a temporary mark.

Now, seeing the torn lace, those memories she wished to forget and hide resurfaced, and her pheromones slowly began to seep out.

“Sister-” She paused, reining in her pheromones. “There are disposable ones in the room.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Qu Zhen shook her head vigorously. “No trouble at all!”

She hurried into the bathroom, retrieved the disposable items from the marked cabinet, then walked stiffly back to the bedside and placed them beside the neatly folded clothes.

Just as she instinctively prepared to retreat, the woman said softly, “The skirt is unwearable.”

In those few seconds, numerous solutions flashed through Qu Zhen’s mind. She quickly went to the bathroom and brought out a clean, freshly laundered bathrobe, her voice so low it was as if the word “shy” were written across her face.

“The bathrobe is clean. It’s the only thing available in the room.” She added, “I’ve already made a call. I won’t run off. If you’re okay with it, I can go to the mall right now to buy you some clothes.”

The pure white covers concealed most of the woman’s body, but her exposed, smooth shoulders were dotted with numerous rosy marks. Just the sight of them radiated undeniable intimacy.

Compared to the marks on Qu Zhen’s own shoulders and neck, the ones on the woman were even more pronounced.

“No need.”

The woman didn’t pursue the topic further. Qu Zhen voluntarily stepped aside, waiting until the woman had changed into her bathrobe. When she emerged, Qu Zhen noticed marks on her ankles as well. Those marks looked more like they were from being tightly gripped, leaving no room for retreat or escape.

Only when the woman stood before her did Qu Zhen avert her gaze, standing stiffly, not daring to take a seat.

Last night, the Omega had been radiant as peach blossoms, melting into the sofa like a soft, clingy cat. But now, dressed in a white bathrobe and sitting upright on the sofa, the woman appeared aloof and noble, like an immortal who had stepped out of a painting.

“Last night-”

Before she could finish, Qu Zhen bowed again. “I take full responsibility for last night. Whatever punishment you decide, I will accept it without complaint.”

“Anything?”

“Yes.”

A faint flicker of amusement crossed the woman’s eyes. “Then lift your head and speak to me while looking at me.”

Qu Zhen, like an outdated robot, mechanically obeyed the Omega’s command, raising her head stiffly. Her amber eyes were filled with a tangle of complex emotions.

“Qu Zhen?”

“Yes!” Qu Zhen nodded, having already given her name. “Qu as in ‘the end of the song is elegant’ (a perfect ending), Zhen as in ‘its leaves are lush and flourishing’ (lush and flourishing leaves).””

She had once heard her Omega mother explain the meaning and origin of her name. Her Alpha mother was named Qu Han, and her Omega mother was named Qin Huan. Initially, Qu Han had wanted to name their child Qu Muqin, with “Qin” echoing the sound of Qin Huan’s surname. But Qin Huan, gentle and shy by nature, felt it was too forward.

In the end, the two compromised by removing the “Mu” and replacing “Qin” with “Zhen”, which symbolizes prosperity and abundance, hoping their child would lead a smooth and flourishing life.

The woman repeated softly, “Qu Zhen.”

Her whisper was tender, as if calling out to a beloved lover.

Qu Zhen pressed her lips together, driven by the thought that even in the face of death, one should know who dealt the final blow. She asked quietly in return, “And you?”

“Shen Zhikou. Kou as in ‘the tip of the budding cardamom’ (budding youth).”She paused, then added, “Zhi as in ‘something longed for but unattainable.'”

Qu Zhen committed it to memory earnestly, obediently keeping her gaze fixed on the woman. If she had a fluffy tail and ears, she would have looked exactly like a puppy whose eyes held only Shen Zhikou.

“How much do you remember about last night?”

Qu Zhen was doing her best to restrain herself, but in this world, the hardest physiological reactions to hide are coughing when you have a cold and blushing when you’re embarrassed.

Hearing Shen Zhikou bring up that memory, she felt herself slowly igniting, her cheeks flushing crimson. “I… remember that we had a temporary mark.”

“Yes.” Shen Zhikou lowered her lashes. “Last night wasn’t my heat cycle.”

Her words were blunt, implying that last night, she had been driven into a temporary heat by Qu Zhen. When an Alpha releases enough pheromones, even during a pseudo-estrus period, it can trigger a brief heat in an Omega.

This was precisely why the government continually strengthened protections for Omegas each year.

The earnest Qu Zhen quickly responded, “I know. Last night was entirely my fault.”

Perhaps it was because the Alpha looked so pitiful at that moment that Shen Zhikou curled her right index finger and lightly tapped the sofa’s leather surface.

“Yesterday, I came with a friend to attend a business conference. After it ended, her pre-heat cycle started early, so I took her to the isolation room. But she couldn’t use the inhibitors in the hotel’s isolation room, the ones she uses are quite specific. I went back to my room to get them for her, and just as I was about to leave, you…” She spoke in a calm tone about something anything but calm. “You came out of your room and grabbed me-”

Everything that followed teetered on the edge of chaos. Qu Zhen, through the earlier explanation, pieced together the entire chain of events. She coughed abruptly, steering the conversation away, unwilling to hear a recount of her own transgressions.

“I’m sorry, sister.” She bowed again in apology. “I truly am deeply sorry.”

But Shen Zhikou gave a response that took Qu Zhen by surprise: “Although it was you who triggered my heat cycle, you didn’t harm me.”

“I have Hormonal Agitation Disorder. When other alphas release their pheromones, it makes me feel nauseated and in pain.” Shen Zhikou looked at her. “But I don’t reject yours.”

Qu Zhen had heard of this rare glandular disorder. Those afflicted endured constant, unbearable pain and developed a strong exclusivity toward others’ pheromones. If another alpha or omega carelessly released pheromones near them, it would feel like needles piercing their glands.

Beyond that, the condition affected every aspect of the sufferer’s life, including their heat cycles or ruts. Apart from irregularity, there could even be periodic increases in frequency.

Despite the advanced state of technology and medicine, there was no cure for Hormonal Agitation Disorder. Last year, Qu Zhen had read a related research report that clearly stated the only fundamental cure was to find a compatible alpha or omega.

Hearing this from the person before her, Qu Zhen blinked uncertainly and asked, “Are you saying that I… I can alleviate your Hormonal Agitation Disorder?”

“Yes.”

The slow-witted Qu Zhen replied, “Then I’ll turn myself in. You…”

“Though it wasn’t entirely consensual, it doesn’t amount to assault, and turning yourself in is irrelevant. Give me your phone; I’ll explain to the regulators.”

Qu Zhen was taken aback. “You-”

Shen Zhikou’s expression remained cold. “This is my sixth year with this illness. The window for a cure is running out.”

According to that research report, the longer one suffered from Hormonal Agitation Disorder, the more severe the symptoms became, and the likelihood of a cure diminished over time.

Qu Zhen understood the implication behind Shen Zhikou’s words and grasped what she wanted.

She bowed deeply once more, speaking with utmost seriousness, “Sister, I will take responsibility.”

In the room, the faint scent of flowers intertwined. Shen Zhikou lowered her gaze without a word, as beautiful as a statue of white jade.

…

On the subway ride back to campus from the hotel, Qu Zhen’s mind was anything but calm.

Haicheng’s Metro Line 3 went directly to C University. As she exited the station and entered the campus, Qu Zhen received a WeChat video call from her mother. She walked over to a flower bed, answered the call, and sat on a stone bench, smiling at her phone.

“Mom.”

On the other end, Qin Huan’s face was gentle and lovely, not looking her age of fifty, though her complexion wasn’t the best. “Good morning, Zhenzhen. What are you up to?”

Qu Zhen was a well-behaved child, she had never been one to lie, from childhood till now.

She casually glanced at her backpack nearby and said gently, “I was just about to head into the library.” Changing the subject, she added, “Mom, the weather has been so rainy lately. Don’t forget to take your medicine, and make sure Mom gives you a massage.”

Qin Huan chuckled, teasing her on purpose, “I know, sweetheart. Your mom remembers everything. Zhenzhen, why do you sound even more old-fashioned than Qu Han?”

Qu Zhen’s smile, however, was strained, as this topic touched upon the deepest scar the three of them wished to avoid.

At eighteen, busy preparing for the college entrance exams, Qu Zhen had dreamed of studying archaeology. But that year, Qin Huan was involved in a severe car accident.

The drunk driver fled the scene immediately. Later, Qu Han took the case to court, but the driver’s parents quickly sought out the mother and daughter, pushing for a private settlement.

The driver’s parents were wealthy and influential, holding considerable power in Mingqiu County. Though their words were polite, the underlying message was a threat.

It was Qu Zhen’s first encounter with the harsh reality of power and privilege. She even witnessed the judge, who was supposed to uphold justice in court, shed his impartial mask and speak in favor of the perpetrator.

She felt the injustice deeply, but the world had always been unfair.

In the hospital, filled with the sterile scent of disinfectant, her mother lay lifeless on the bed. It was the first time Qu Zhen saw Qu Han cry.

Because they refused to settle, the medical bills quickly drained their modest savings. Qu Han was even targeted by the driver’s parents and lost her job at the school where she had worked for years.

That same late summer, when it was time to submit her college applications, Qu Zhen abandoned her long-held passion for archaeology and chose law instead.

“Will you come home during your next break, Zhenzhen?” Qin Huan smiled, a small dimple appearing on her cheek. “I’ve been experimenting with a new dish recently, and even Qu Han said it’s good. If you come back, I’ll make sure to prepare it for you.”

The journey from Haicheng to Mingqiu County took three hours by car, and Qu Zhen often returned home during her university years.

“I’ll be back. I’ll come home as soon as my break starts next week.” Qu Zhen paused, then added, “Mom, there’s something I want to talk to you both about when I’m back.”

“What is it? Are there little eavesdroppers on the phone? Can’t we know our Zhenzhen’s secret now?”

Qu Zhen laughed, though the thought of the matter made her a little shy. “It’s something important. It’s better to discuss it in person.”

“Alright, I promise to keep your secret.”

The mother and daughter chatted a while longer until Qu Han’s voice sounded in the background, prompting Qin Huan to say goodbye. After hanging up, Qu Zhen stood up, her thoughts as scattered as leaves in the wind. She bought breakfast at the underground supermarket and returned to her dorm, where she received a notification from her bank.

It was a payment from the Yaste Hotel, 300 yuan as income.

The dorm was quiet, with Qu Zhen alone inside. Leaning against her desk, she slowly ate her fried dough sticks and pancake. Perhaps because she had differentiated into an alpha, her appetite had grown. She finished the breakfast and drank a carton of milk before feeling full.

Tossing the empty milk carton into the trash, Qu Zhen began to ponder what to do next.

After leaving the hotel, she had bought alpha-specific scent blockers, and now her pheromones were stable. C University had previous cases of secondary differentiation, and the school’s policy required students who underwent this change to apply to their advisors for relocation to dorms matching their new secondary gender.

But she was already in her senior year, with just three weeks left to complete her courses. Apart from necessary advisor group meetings and other matters requiring her return to campus, the rest of her time was entirely up to the students to arrange.

According to her previous plans, she would likely stay in Haicheng to develop her career. And… she had told Shen Zhikou that she would take responsibility.

Before her cheeks began to heat up again, Qu Zhen patted her face first, shook her head to push thoughts of the Omega to the back of her mind, then stood up to pack her things, ready to leave campus and search for an apartment to carry out her next step.

The cost of living in Haicheng was high, and the housing prices were jaw-droppingly expensive.

Qu Zhen spent the entire day searching but couldn’t find a suitable apartment. In the evening, when she returned to the dormitory and told her roommates about her secondary gender differentiation, the three of them froze for a moment before Jiang Cheng was the first to burst into a scream.

“Ah! Xiao Zhen actually became an Alpha! What will happen to our revolutionary dormitory bond now?!”

“Zhen, are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Yang Shumeng looked her over. “Remember to go to the hospital for a check-up after you’re done with your tasks. The campus clinic won’t do, the People’s Hospital is a good option!”

Zhou Yun was the most mature among the four. While the other two were still chattering away, she had already started helping Qu Zhen browse rental listings on an app.

“The housing prices in Haicheng are really outrageous. I wonder if working hard for ten years would even buy a bathroom here,” she sighed, then analyzed, “Apartments near the school are definitely cheaper, but if you’re considering internships and work later, it’s better to rent in a different area. Sanyang District isn’t bad, but it’s a bit too remote. Xiao Zhen, which area are you thinking of renting in?”

Qu Zhen was still undecided, mainly because her internship hadn’t been finalized yet. She wouldn’t know the specific outcome until her interview next week.

Jiang Cheng vaguely guessed her thoughts and said straightforwardly, “It’s okay, Xiao Zhen. Why don’t you stay at my place for now? It’s that small apartment my parents bought for me, it’s been sitting empty anyway. Once your interview results come out and you find a suitable place, you can move out then.”

Qu Zhen shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ll stay at a hotel for the next few days.”

Hotels and inns around the campus were reasonably priced, so staying there temporarily for a few days wasn’t too bad. Qu Zhen didn’t like troubling others. Although she knew her roommate meant well, now that she had differentiated into an Alpha, it wouldn’t be appropriate to stay in a Beta’s apartment without careful consideration.

None of the three could persuade her. After Qu Zhen booked a room and packed her things to head over, her phone on the desk vibrated.

Ten minutes later, after finishing her packing, Qu Zhen saw the message.

It was from Shen Zhikou.

Before leaving, they had exchanged contact information. Shen Zhikou had said she would contact her as soon as she finished handling her matters. In the meantime, Qu Zhen could also take the time to sort things out and think about how to take responsibility.

Qu Zhen tapped into the chat window.

[I’m at the south gate of your school.]

She was ten minutes late in replying. Just as she was about to type, the chat window showed that the other party was typing.

Even with just a simple sentence, Qu Zhen’s eyelashes fluttered with embarrassment.

[Is it inconvenient for you to come out?]