The Alpha Who Played Me Has Re-Differentiated Into a Delicate Omega - Chapter 16

“Are you alright?”

Exasperated to the point of laughter, Jiao Jin looked at Cui Yu, who seemed genuinely serious. “What I meant by those words was for you to consider someone else, but you can’t just disregard yourself either. What happens if you recover your memories later and truly despise me, yet find yourself forced to be intimate with me because of pheromones? What will you do then?”

Seeing that the hand gripping her hadn’t loosened even a fraction, Jiao Jin sighed and continued, “Besides, did I ever say I liked you? For what reason should I mark you? Cui Yu, don’t be so naive, just because you like someone doesn’t mean they have to like you back.”

“But…”

Perhaps realizing she had been too impatient, but having finally thought of a way to dispel Jiao Jin’s concerns, Cui Yu lowered her head and released her grip. “I just… want to be with you so much. I really like you.”

“Cui Yu, no matter how much you like someone, you shouldn’t be this humble.”

This was spoken from experience. When Jiao Jin had loved this woman before, she had practically humbled herself into the dust, yet the result had been what it was. Jiao Jin didn’t harbor thoughts of revenge or resentment, she simply didn’t want to become the kind of person she detested.

Moreover, the amnesiac Cui Yu was actually quite cute.

If viewed as a completely different person, Jiao Jin might have liked this frank and sincere “little white rabbit.” Unfortunately, she was the same woman who had once cruelly toyed with her feelings.

However, completely unable to take the words to heart, Cui Yu sniffled, her eyes rimmed with red. “Of course I know I shouldn’t be this humble. But besides begging you to like me, what can I do? What else can I possibly do?”

Seeing her pout as if about to cry again, looking truly pitiful, especially since her affection was so undisguised. Jiao Jin felt a bit uneasy. She pulled out a tissue and handed it to Cui Yu. “You… cough, wipe your tears.”

“Wooo… A-Jin, you obviously care about me, so why can’t you like me?”

After taking the tissue, she cried even harder, like a child acting spoiled after receiving comfort. Cui Yu wiped her eyes, her wet gaze bright and shimmering. “A-Jin, you told me not to be so humble, but can you tell me… what do I have to do to make you like me?”

Still unable to find the heart to say “I will never like you,” Jiao Jin sighed again, feeling troubled by this pitiful woman. She thought for a moment and finally came up with a solid reason. “You know, I like Alphas. When we were ‘dating’ before, it was because you were an Alpha and you fit my aesthetic. But now you’re an Omega. Even the gender is wrong; how can I like you?”

“So, if I turn back into an Alpha, will you like me then?”

Her gaze grew stubborn, as if she truly intended to find a way to change her gender. Cui Yu bit her lower lip until it turned white.

“Cui Yu, why can’t you understand my rejection? To put it bluntly, you only ‘like’ me now because you’re dependent and can’t leave me. This isn’t true love. Wait until you recover your memories to talk about love, alright?”

“Based on what can you say this isn’t true love?”

Perhaps out of spite, Cui Yu ripped off the inhibitory patch on the back of her neck. Tilting her head up, she said, “I want you to hold me, kiss me, and mark me, does that not count as true love?”

A faint, light scent of osmanthus trees after rain wafted out. Even just a trace of it filled Jiao Jin’s senses the moment it entered her nose. Because their pheromones were a 100% match, the gland at the back of her neck instantly became swollen and hot. Jiao Jin clutched her own patch, her body swaying slightly.

Cui Yu quickly stepped forward to grab Jiao Jin’s arm. Unaware that she was the one affecting Jiao Jin with her pheromones, she asked worriedly, “A-Jin, what’s wrong?”

Lips smelling like sweet orchids were right before her eyes, and the fingers gripping her arm were incredibly soft. Jiao Jin finally realized she had overestimated her pheromone control. Until this moment, she hadn’t fully grasped the reality of being a “perfect match” with the secondary differentiated Cui Yu.

“Don’t touch me…”

Breathing painfully, she stumbled through her blurry vision toward the place where she remembered keeping suppressants. Only then did she realize she had moved and hadn’t brought them with her. Her rut wasn’t due for another half month; she hadn’t expected Cui Yu to be so dangerously naive.

The sweet fragrance, accompanied by faint sobbing, slowly pulled back Jiao Jin’s sanity. She looked up at Cui Yu, who was standing at a distance, afraid to approach. Jiao Jin’s breathing was heavy. “Your pheromones… triggered my rut. Don’t come near me. Call the hospital.”

“A-Jin, are you okay?”

Then, her vision blurred again. She could no longer hear Cui Yu’s words. All she could see was that alluring nape, the tender, pink gland looked incredibly lovely and vulnerable. As the impulse surged, Jiao Jin bit down hard on the tip of her tongue.

Consequently, after Cui Yu contacted the hospital, she saw blood trickling from Jiao Jin’s mouth. Overcome with worry, she forgot the warning to stay away and ran over, catching Jiao Jin’s strengthless body.

“A-Jin? A-Jin! How are you?”

Distressed, she wiped away the trail of blood on Jiao Jin’s chin, weeping helplessly. She actually reached out and rubbed the clearly swollen gland under Jiao Jin’s patch. At that touch, the person in her arms shuddered and opened eyes that were bloodshot and crimson.

In the next moment, Cui Yu felt a sudden pressure on the back of her neck. A painful yet tingling sensation interrupted her crying. Her whole body trembled as she felt the scent of gardenia mixed with the crisp fragrance of lychee enter her body.

Biological instinct told her, she had just been temporarily marked.

“Sss…”

Feeling like every part of her body ached, Jiao Jin rubbed her temples and pressed her hand against her bandaged gland, recalling the scene before she fainted.

She had told Cui Yu not to approach, surely nothing happened?

Getting out of bed and putting on slippers, her body felt cold again now that the suppressants had kicked in. Jiao Jin wrapped herself in a coat and rang for her doctor.

“Hello, where is the person who brought me here?”

“Brought you here? When we arrived, both of you had fainted. She’s currently hospitalized in the room next to yours.”

“She fainted too?”

Her sixth sense blared an alarm. Jiao Jin lowered her head, choosing to face reality. “Why did she faint? And why is she hospitalized?”

The doctor sighed. “Deputy Director Jiao, you temporarily marked Deputy Director Cui.”

Jiao Jin raised an eyebrow in surprise at the result. Hearing the doctor recognize her made her even more uneasy. She looked down. “I fell into a rut. I don’t know why it turned out like this.”

“Go see Deputy Director Cui after breakfast. You probably weren’t in your right mind then, you gave her a pretty nasty bite.”

Nodding awkwardly, she realized it was already morning. She had been unconscious for a whole day. Oh no, she hadn’t asked for leave from the Star Bureau!

Just as she was about to call a colleague in Human Resources, her call was interrupted by a ring from the higher-ranking Director Cui. Jiao Jin shook her head helplessly and answered.

“Little Jiao, how are you?”

“Director Cui, you know I’m in the hospital?”

“Of course. This is the Star Bureau’s affiliated hospital. How could I not know when both you and Xiao Yu are admitted?”

“I’m sorry. Some accidents happened yesterday at noon. I accidentally marked Cui Yu temporarily. Director Cui, I think it’s better if you take her home. After all, we are an Alpha and an Omega; living together isn’t appropriate.”

“What is there to apologize for? I went to the hospital yesterday. Xiao Yu explained everything, she was the one who tore off her patch first. How can I blame you?”

“Regardless of blame, Director Cui, I still feel I cannot live with Cui Yu anymore.”

“Little Jiao, I’m sorry, I can’t take Xiao Yu back yet. That kidnapping case isn’t over.”

“But now many people know Cui Yu is with me. For example, the doctor today, and the subordinates at the Detention Bureau.”

“Don’t worry, they are all trustworthy people.”

“Director Cui, why do you trust me so much?”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a deep sigh. “Little Jiao, I can only trust you now. I know what Xiao Yu did to you in the past. Yet, despite that, you can still face her rationally without venting your resentment. Little Jiao, I admire you.”

Feeling awkward from the praise, Jiao Jin lowered her wrist as the voice from the communicator grew softer. “Fine, Director Cui. I will continue to look after Cui Yu until the mastermind is caught.”

The two chatted briefly before hanging up. Jiao Jin heard a knock on her hospital door. Bracing herself against the embarrassment, she opened it.

Standing outside was indeed a blushing Cui Yu. Before she could react, Jiao Jin was pulled into a hug. The arms around her waist tightened. Jiao Jin struggled for a moment but finally let her hands drop. “Why are you hugging me?”

“I was scared to death. You were so hot yesterday.”

“Just an early rut, that’s all. Why did it scare you so much?”

Cui Yu’s eyes began to redden. Seeing Jiao Jin perfectly fine now somehow made her want to cry even more. She buried her head into Jiao Jin’s shoulder, her hot tears soaking into the dry hospital gown. “But you’re always so healthy. You suddenly collapsed on the floor, how could I not worry?”

In truth, she simply couldn’t stand seeing even the slightest bit of harm come to Jiao Jin.

Being cared for so wholeheartedly was, of course, a good feeling. Jiao Jin coughed twice to swallow back an emerging smile. Her lowered hand slowly rose, and she gave Cui Yu two clumsy, tentative pats on the back for comfort.