The Alpha Who Played Me Has Re-Differentiated Into a Delicate Omega - Chapter 17

The atmosphere between them had finally softened into something warm, but as Jiao Jin looked down, she caught sight of Cui Yu’s neck wrapped in bandages. Paired with her fair skin and that dazed, innocent expression, it looked unexpectedly provocative.

Jiao Jin coughed twice, she had cleared her throat so much out of nervousness that it was starting to actually hurt. She withdrew her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mark you on purpose. I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time.”

Ultimately, the situation had occurred partly because Cui Yu had initiated the closeness, but as an Alpha, Jiao Jin felt she was undoubtedly the one more at fault. She lowered her head, her expression sincere. “I apologize. From now on, I’ll make sure to keep suppressants on me at all times. This won’t happen again.”

How could she possibly admit that she actually wished it would happen again? Cui Yu grabbed Jiao Jin’s hand. “I don’t blame you. I was the one who took off the scent-blocking patch first, and I was the one who ignored the warnings and stayed close to you. You don’t need to apologize.”

Jiao Jin instinctively pulled her hand away. After that temporary marking, she realized how difficult it was to maintain her composure around Cui Yu’s pheromones. She hated this feeling of losing control; she didn’t want to let this contact continue. It was better to cut ties quickly and cleanly.

“Cui Yu, you know as well as I do that living together like this is dangerous. So, I’ll be moving back to my own place later. Keep your door locked. I’m going to install an alarm system on your communicator. If you sense danger, just press the distress button, and I’ll come from the teleportation point.”

“A-Jin…”

Cui Yu’s joyful mood plummeted instantly. She couldn’t understand why this person was trying to distance herself again. She clenched her fingertips, her eyes gradually filling with bitterness.

“That’s enough. Give me your hand so I can install the alarm system.”

Cui Yu immediately hid the hand containing the chip behind her back, like a throwing a tantrum like a child. She refused to reach out, her expression stubborn and aggrieved.

“Stop messing around. Give me your hand.”

Jiao Jin wasn’t in the mood for games. With one long arm, she swept the woman toward her and caught the hidden hand. Due to the momentum, Cui Yu fell into her embrace. She should have been happy about the proximity, but her heart felt as though a piercingly cold wind was blowing through it. The shimmer of tears in her eyes grew more pronounced, and she began to sob, losing all will and strength to resist.

After installing the alarm system, handling the discharge paperwork, and getting a two months prescription for suppressants, Jiao Jin drove to the Interstellar Bureau first.

Upon seeing her, a new assistant asked, “Deputy Chief Jiao, how are you feeling? Is resting for just one day enough?”

“How did you… ” know I was in the hospital?

It was strange. She felt as though everyone’s eyes were filled with concern when she walked in. Jiao Jin didn’t finish her question, merely pondering the reason.

The assistant, being observant, nodded and explained, “Oh, it’s because Director Cui came by yesterday to request leave on your behalf. She said you weren’t feeling well, so yesterday’s work was handed off to the subordinates.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Jiao Jin retreated behind the privacy glass and checked the time. Today was Friday, classes were light, so Jiao Ran should be at the library. She sent a quick message: “Xiao Ran, what are you up to? Want to go out with Big Sister? I remember you really wanted to visit that new Virtual Paradise.”

The reply came almost instantly: “Sister! We’re so in sync, I just woke up! Wait for me to put on some makeup, then can we meet at Virtual Paradise?”

“Do you really need to wear makeup just to see your sister? I like you however you look.”

“Surely you’ll like the ‘prettier’ version of me even more? No lying, Sister!”

“Fine, fine. But our Xiao Ran is beautiful no matter what.”

She didn’t know why, but she always found herself doting on this younger sister. They had been together since their days in the orphanage. Although they weren’t blood-related, over ten years of depending on each other had built a bond deeper than most family ties.

Scrolling through old chat logs to find the location of the Virtual Paradise Jiao Ran liked, Jiao Jin estimated it would take her sister about half an hour to get ready. She drove to the school first, working on her tablet while she waited.

Cui Peining’s protection order would end in about ten days. Jiao Jin planned to apply for a transfer afterward. She figured she might as well go to the Quick Transmigration Bureau, she could work while having fun. By experiencing different lives, she could earn points to buy all sorts of things.

After a brief period of idling, Jiao Ran walked out wearing a milky-white dress. It was a color meant to accentuate elegance, but on her youthful and delicate features, she looked more like a lively, energetic child on a field trip.

“Sister, I saw your car from a mile away!”

The girl looked like she was fishing for a compliment. Jiao Jin ruffled her hair. “Mm, good eyes. Seems like you won’t be needing laser eye surgery after all.”

“Hey! I spent so much time curling my hair, don’t mess it up!”

“You little brat, I can’t even pat your head anymore?”

Jiao Ran playfully stuck out her tongue. As she pressed her fingerprint to unlock the passenger seatbelt, she noticed the seat, which was usually adjusted for her, had been moved. Whoever had sat there was nearly ten centimeters taller than her.

“Sister, was Cui Yu in your car?”

Jiao Jin’s hand on the steering wheel paused for a second, and she slowed the car down slightly. She didn’t lie; she just smiled helplessly. “Nothing escapes your sharp eyes, does it?”

“So… are you and her…” Back together?

Jiao Ran intended to ask out of concern, but she was cut off before she could finish. Jiao Jin shook her head, her expression resolute. “No. I just told her today that I’m moving back. Once Cui Peining’s protection order is over, whatever happens to her has nothing to do with me.”

“You’re moving back, Sister?”

“Yes, today.”

“Then I’ll apply to move back home too. It’s been a while since we’ve stayed together.”

They arrived at Virtual Paradise around noon. Jiao Jin had already bought the tickets while waiting. After verifying the vouchers, she led Jiao Ran into the place the younger girl had been looking forward to.

The venue was massive with countless attractions. Various experience hall names vied for attention on the map. Jiao Jin didn’t have much personal interest, so she asked, “Xiao Ran, what do you want to play? I’ll join you.”

“I want to do the Mecha Battle!”

From then on, accompanied by Jiao Ran’s enthusiastic cries of “I want to do Star Wars!”, “I want to do the Romance Sim!”, and “I want to do the Ancient Cold Weapon Battle!”, they spent the afternoon experiencing all the famous games in the park. Jiao Jin was older and had actually served on an interstellar carrier, so she didn’t feel much excitement herself. However, seeing her sister so happy brought a smile to her lips.

“Sister, I’m hungry. Let’s go get dinner?”

“Sure, whatever you want.”

Just as Jiao Jin was searching for good places to eat within the park, she received a call from an unknown number. However, with her photographic memory, she recognized it immediately.

It was Cui Yu.

Not wanting to answer, she rejected the call. When Jiao Ran asked what was wrong, she said, “Just work stuff. It’s fine, nothing urgent.”

But Cui Yu was persistent and called again immediately.

Feeling a sudden surge of irritability, Jiao Jin hung up a second time. Then, she noticed the skin on her own wrist glowing red. This was… Cui Yu had triggered the alarm button.

“Sister, that’s…”

“It’s Cui Yu. I installed an alarm system for her.”

Jiao Ran’s expression dropped instantly, but she remained considerate. She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s okay. You should go find her, Sister. I’ll just head back to school now.”

“Wait a moment.”

Not wanting her sister’s long-awaited outing to end on a sour note, Jiao Jin called Cui Yu back. When the other side picked up instantly, she asked, “What is it now?”

Her words weren’t exactly a reprimand, but her urgent tone sounded harsh and cold. Cui Yu was already physically weak, she had collapsed onto her bed, her wrist pressed against her heaving chest. Her voice was trembling, thick with tears. “I… I don’t know. I just miss you so much. Please, come back, okay?”

“Are you serious? You ‘miss me’? What are you going to do when I’m actually gone?”

“A-Jin, please… please come back. I feel terrible. My gland hurts, it’s itching and stinging.”

On the other end, perhaps because she hadn’t received a response for too long, Cui Yu hung up the communicator in despair. Jiao Jin finally grew frantic. She had been single for so long that she had forgotten a critical detail, an Omega who has been temporarily marked cannot be too far from the Alpha who marked them the following day.

Jiao Jin looked at Jiao Ran guiltily. Seeing the understanding look in her sister’s eyes, she turned and ran toward the exit of Virtual Paradise.

She didn’t see that after she left, Jiao Ran sighed and looked down at the ground in disappointment.

There was no time to drive, she took the teleportation point directly back to the three bedrooms apartment. Jiao Jin burst through the door, panting, and was immediately hit by the familiar scent of “Rain in the Lonely Mountain Osmanthus.”

Though it was a cool scent, it felt inexplicably sweltering. Fortunately, she had suppressants ready and quickly injected one. Once she felt her body temperature drop, she opened the door to the guest bedroom.

Sure enough, the woman lay on the bed with a flushed face, her clothes disarrayed and her brow furrowed.

Jiao Jin stepped forward to check her temperature, her forehead felt scalding to the touch. She first pulled Cui Yu’s clothes together to cover her exposed skin, then tore off the scent-blocking patch from her own nape.

The fragrance of gardenia wrapped in the sweetness of lychee surged out, completely enveloping the original osmanthus scent. The “rain” in the atmosphere seemed to fall, slowly bringing down Cui Yu’s feverish temperature.

Allowing the woman to pull her into a tight embrace, Jiao Jin lay down as well. Only then did she realize how tormenting an absolute pheromone match could be. The suppressant she had injected minutes ago felt useless. She closed her eyes and once again bit the tip of her tongue, which was already wounded from the day before.

“A-Jin…”

The discomfort had finally eased, but Cui Yu’s logic hadn’t quite returned. She opened her eyes, her arms around Jiao Jin’s neck, her palms brushing against Jiao Jin’s slightly swollen gland.

Thinking she was dreaming, she smiled at the “dream” coming true, then tilted her head up to kiss lips that tasted of rusted iron.

Cui Yu frowned slightly in distress, her voice soft and delicate. “A-Jin, don’t bite your tongue anymore.”

As she spoke, she leaned in for another intimate kiss, her tongue trembling as it peeked out, as if to say, “You can bite mine instead.”

Jiao Jin had no intention of indulging her; she genuinely wanted Cui Yu to wake up. She bit down hard when their tongues met, then watched as the woman looked back at her with teary, pitiful eyes.

Without hesitation, she pushed back the shoulders that were trying to press closer. Once she was sure Cui Yu had regained her senses, Jiao Jin sat up, her expression cold. “This was my oversight. I’ve never dated an Omega before, and I’ve never marked anyone else. My apologies.”

She had emphasized that she’d never liked an Omega before, hoping to make the woman back off. Instead, Cui Yu looked delighted, her voice exceptionally soft. “So, I’m the only one you’ve ever dated, right?”

“That was the ‘you’ from the past.”

“But that was still me.”

Realizing that the intimacy from her “dream” was actually reality, Cui Yu was in a great mood. She licked her lower lip, even her bitten tongue felt a sense of joy. “A-Jin, why did you come back? Was it because you were worried about me?”

“Don’t you know? For the three days following a temporary marking, you can’t be too far from me. Otherwise, you’ll experience a pheromone imbalance like the one just now.”

“Then… will you stay by my side every moment?”

Jiao Jin’s expression hardened. She crossed her arms and spoke cruel words. “No. I’ll extract a canister of my pheromones for you. You can look after yourself.”

“How could you….”

Cui Yu’s playful whining stopped abruptly at the sight of Jiao Jin’s cold face. As if suddenly remembering something, she also crossed her arms. “Fine. Give it to me then. I’ll take your pheromones and get a permanent implantation.”

“Cui Yu! Are you crazy?”