The White Moonlight I Chased, the Divorce I Never Expected - Chapter 39

Chi Yi’s heart gave a heavy jolt.

For an Omega to say such words to an Alpha was as good as an unspoken invitation—its meaning unmistakable. And Chi Yi truly felt it, deep and overwhelming, the tidal pull of emotion shaking her to her core.

Somewhere in her subconscious, Chi Yi had always known that Wen Ranqing had once loved someone else. Who she had loved, for how long, or how deeply—Chi Yi never asked, and she had no intention of digging. Love, desire—those things came and went. It was human.

What mattered to Chi Yi was Wen Ranqing’s heart each time they were together. Her thoughts when Chi Yi wasn’t around. This moment—this heart, now.

The bedsheets were in disarray, as were their clothes. Beads of sweat had formed on Wen Ranqing’s forehead, her cheeks flushed red, but her lips were pale. Her hands were clenched tightly, and her body trembled faintly, as if trapped in deep discomfort.

The air was saturated with the scent of their mixed pheromones. Neither was pure anymore, and the wild rose was especially potent. Even Chi Yi’s fingers on her back felt hot to the touch. When she reached to cup Wen Ranqing’s face, the woman instinctively flinched away, shrinking back.

Chest tight, heart racing—Wen Ranqing was going through every physical torment that came with heat. But even more unbearable was the sheer panic and longing that rose from deep within her body. Chi Yi’s presence, her breath, was right there—but Wen Ranqing clung to the hem of her nightdress, forcing herself to push away.

The words she had just been coaxed into saying—the plea for “your scent”—were, in different words, a request for a mark.

There were two kinds of marks:

Temporary marks were the lighter of the two, most commonly used by mature Alphas and Omegas during susceptibility or heat. The Alpha’s pheromone would be injected into the Omega’s body, where it lingered for two or three days before metabolizing and fading.

If the compatibility between them was high, temporary marks could ease the discomfort of heat almost entirely. The only side effect: with each mark, the one being marked would grow more dependent—emotionally and physically—on the other.

Permanent marks, on the other hand, were far more intense. Both parties often experienced nesting behaviors, with Alphas more prone to it. Omegas frequently became pregnant. Though modern medicine offered a chance to erase such marks, the process was painful and uncertain.

Whichever it was, Wen Ranqing didn’t dare think about it.

No one pursued someone by crawling into their arms in heat. If something were to happen tonight, the burden Chi Yi would have to bear would only grow heavier.

She didn’t want Chi Yi to stay with her out of guilt or obligation. That would run completely counter to everything she hoped for. Chi Yi wouldn’t be happy. Wouldn’t be free.

Wen Ranqing mustered every ounce of strength to pull herself away, even as her body dangled near the edge of the bed. Chi Yi furrowed her brow tightly, misreading her struggle as a reaction to the heat. She wrapped her arms protectively around Wen Ranqing and didn’t dare loosen her grip.

But Wen Ranqing still tried to pull away.

Chi Yi gently brushed aside the damp strands sticking to her face—and that small gesture made Wen Ranqing recoil with even greater intensity. Chi Yi’s concern grew. Without hesitation, she pulled Wen Ranqing fully into her embrace, half-sitting up in bed.

Wen Ranqing curled in on herself, trembling shoulders tucked in, eyes red and brimming with tears. The droplets streamed silently down her cheeks and soaked into Chi Yi’s shirt.

In that moment, all she wanted was to beg Chi Yi to let her go—to leave the room. She’d give Chi Yi anything. Everything. But she couldn’t be greedy. She couldn’t even speak aloud the things she wanted. If she stayed any longer, she feared they would cross a line that couldn’t be undone.

“Wen Ranqing, look at me.”

Amid her panic, Chi Yi’s voice rang clear. Just that—enough for Wen Ranqing to ease her resistance a little. Lips pressed together, she obediently lifted her eyes.

Her lips were soft and flushed, even the faint lines on them impossibly endearing. Her delicate features were captivating, youthful, tender. In her own fevered solitude, Wen Ranqing had hated herself for imagining this moment, but she’d done so anyway.

The heat that surged through her now was fiercer than the days she’d spent alone, unable to see Chi Yi. She couldn’t bear to look anywhere but into her eyes. Any more, and she knew she’d lose herself.

Right in front of her, she was thinking about Chi Yi—wanting her. She’d said as much. Plainly. And yet, she still felt shame for it. But even so, she couldn’t look away.

Chi Yi’s dark hair was slightly tousled, and the cool composure of her face was now flushed because of her—because of desire. Every gesture radiated restraint and care. Chi Yi’s heart pounded fiercely. Her pheromone levels spiked again. Her fingers tightened around Wen Ranqing’s slender waist, losing control.

One hand slid gently into her hair, cradling the back of her neck. Chi Yi just needed to confirm one thing.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Xiao Yi…” The reply came almost instantly, soft as breath, so faint it barely existed—but so certain, so clear.

Her entire body was burning. Just meeting those eyes was almost enough to make her lose control. The firm pressure at her waist gave her no room to pull away—she simply clung to Chi Yi’s shoulder, trembling helplessly.

“Xiao Yi…”
Wen Ranqing whispered the name again, unconsciously, her voice soft and delicate like a child seeking comfort. It wasn’t seductive—it was simply tender, fragile.

The emotions saturating the air between them had become too thick to unravel. And now that the one lingering doubt had been answered, Chi Yi froze for a moment, overcome by the joy swelling inside her—so full it felt like it might spill over.

She pressed her palm tightly into her own hand, trying to collect herself—but in the end, she couldn’t resist leaning in, placing a lingering kiss on Wen Ranqing’s flushed cheek.

Wen Ranqing’s body shuddered. Her lips clamped shut, but a faint whimper still escaped her throat. The heat within her surged stronger and stronger, her body unable to escape. When Chi Yi’s warm breath brushed past her ear and down toward the nape of her neck, Wen Ranqing finally realized, through a haze, what was about to happen.

“…Can I mark you?”

Chi Yi’s voice was hoarse, rasping. Even now, she respected Wen Ranqing’s choice. If she heard the word no, she would stop—right here, right now—no matter how much it hurt.

She had asked this question once before. That time, it was rougher, teasing, with a sharp edge to her voice. But now, her tone was quiet, gentle, weighted with something far more profound.

There was silence.

Wen Ranqing, struggling to discern whether Chi Yi was saying this only because of what she’d just said, hesitated. But then, Chi Yi paused—only for a breath—and rephrased, her voice more direct, stripping away all ambiguity:

“I want to mark you.”

“…Is that okay?”

Two times she asked. By now, even Wen Ranqing couldn’t deny the truth in Chi Yi’s words. She had already sunk too deep into the tide of heat and desire. She opened her mouth and gave the softest hum—a breath, really, but unmistakable.

Afraid that Chi Yi hadn’t heard, Wen Ranqing hurriedly let go of the fabric she’d been clutching and instead wrapped her arms around Chi Yi’s waist. It was silent permission—but the moment they embraced, it brought a peace that no medicine or object ever could.

The scene was almost identical to the last time. The difference now was that Chi Yi no longer believed Wen Ranqing’s feelings were misguided.

Because this time—it felt real.
Wen Ranqing really, truly liked her.
So much that she was willing to hand over a piece of herself that she’d guarded for over thirty years—and let Chi Yi do whatever she wanted.

Their bodies pressed close, every curve fitting perfectly. The gland at Wen Ranqing’s nape was flushed and swollen, its scent dizzying. The sight alone shook Chi Yi to her core, her voice trembling from something deep and unexpected.

That most vulnerable place exposed under her gaze, Wen Ranqing felt ashamed, unsteady—her breath ragged and shallow. Her body was panicking. But it was Chi Yi. And that made all the difference. She barely shifted, and when she spoke, her voice was already tinged with tears:

“…Xiao Yi…”

That soft, pleading sound made Chi Yi realize that her moment of hesitation had only worsened things for Wen Ranqing. Without waiting any longer, she gently bit down, piercing the tender skin with her canines.

Instantly, a wave of sensation washed through her. Her own body buzzed with tingling numbness along her spine.

She didn’t have to think.
As an Alpha, instinct took over—her pheromones surged, injecting deeply.

In that moment, all of Wen Ranqing’s anxiety was washed away—replaced by a softness she’d never known. Her body convulsed once, her moan barely held back, as Chi Yi’s scent invaded every nerve. Her body reached its peak… and slowly began to quiet.

For over a decade, Wen Ranqing had relied on suppressants and clinical therapies to manage her heats. The strain had thrown her system into disarray. If not for An Li’s meticulous care, her health might’ve broken down long ago from mental and physical exhaustion.

And yet, this—
A simple, temporary mark, something even newly matured AO couples routinely experienced—
It nearly overwhelmed her.

“…Xiao Yi…”
Her voice trembled. Lost, aching, but still clinging to Chi Yi like a lifeline.

Even after giving Wen Ranqing plenty of time to recover, Chi Yi could still clearly feel the changes in her body. Her heart ached with a tenderness that couldn’t deepen any further. She gently retracted her canines and licked the wound softly, trying to soothe her. Despite being deep in her own susceptibility, where even a high-dose suppressant barely worked, she forced herself to hold back.

“It’ll pass soon. I’m here,” she whispered, her voice low and steady.

“…Mm.”
It took Wen Ranqing a long while to respond, her mind still dazed and unfocused. After being temporarily marked, her body had become hypersensitive. Even Chi Yi’s gentle caresses along her back felt like waves of scorching heat.

Tears streaked her flushed face, born from the helplessness of the moment. Now, for the first time, Wen Ranqing could clearly feel what that sensation had truly meant—she wanted Chi Yi to possess her, wanted every inch of herself to be covered in Chi Yi’s mark.

The realization left her blushing with shame, her whole body flushed with heat and the thrum of desire.

Nestled in Chi Yi’s arms, her pale skin now entirely tinged with pink, Wen Ranqing looked like a painting come to life—sensual and fragile. Her nightdress, soaked with sweat, clung to her in disheveled folds, every crease oozing with allure. Chi Yi let her eyes drift shut for a moment. Inside, it felt like she was taming a beast, yet not a flicker of that chaos showed on her face.

Wen Ranqing seemed as delicate as a flower, ready to fall apart with the slightest breeze. Chi Yi hadn’t dared do anything more—afraid, truly afraid, that she wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Then a soft movement behind her. A slick little tongue traced along Chi Yi’s ear, followed by a series of helpless, breathy moans. Every sound tugged at Chi Yi’s heart like a string stretched too tight. Her breath caught, ragged and harsh, before she finally gave in and kissed her.

This kiss was slow, lingering—laced with longing. Chi Yi’s hand stayed respectfully at Wen Ranqing’s waist, making no further move. Still, Wen Ranqing’s whole body trembled. She did her best to respond, but by the time the kiss ended, she had gone limp against Chi Yi, unable even to form words.

Chi Yi gently laid her down into the cool, silken sheets. Her own agitation had eased slightly—but only slightly. The earlier mark felt almost like a dream, yet the heat radiating between Wen Ranqing’s collarbones was unmistakably real, incredibly tempting.

Truth be told, Chi Yi wasn’t in much better shape.

The pounding heartbeat in her ears was deafening. Her scent still lingered thick in the air, tangled intimately with Wen Ranqing’s floral pheromones. After what felt like a long time, Wen Ranqing finally found the strength to speak, her voice soft and weak—yet full of concern for Chi Yi.

“…Can we take tomorrow off?”

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