Sweat dampened Ye Zhixun’s palms as Yu Li’s overwhelming presence made her nervous.
Yu Li simply sat there, how could Ye Zhixun dare to approach?
And of all times, just when Yu Li needed her temporary mark, her marking fangs refused to react.
She tried to release pheromones, but like last time, nothing came out.
Yu Li frowned at Ye Zhixun. Wonderful. The little alpha had claimed twenty minutes would be enough, yet it would probably take her ten just to walk over.
Yesterday, she had been bold enough today, she was too scared to move.
Yu Li wasn’t going to wait. She stood and walked over to Ye Zhixun.
Feeling unwell since the evening, Yu Li had wanted to catch a whiff of Ye Zhixun’s pheromones this morning. But now, standing before her, she noticed Ye Zhixun smelled clean and fresh just not of her own scent.
The pearl clam had tightly shut its shell again.
Would it only open if pried apart?
“Are you ready? Or are you slacking off?” Yu Li asked quietly.
“N-no…” Being this close to Yu Li left Ye Zhixun flustered and tense.
The more nervous she became, the less her pheromones responded.
Yu Li watched the alpha’s ears redden and decided to release a hint of her own pheromones first.
The scent of roses and citrus unfurled like two hands slowly prying open the clam’s shell.
Ye Zhixun caught Yu Li’s pheromones, and only then did her marking fangs react, finally secreting her own scent.
If the fangs didn’t respond, no pheromones would be released and biting an omega’s gland would be useless for a temporary mark.
Yu Li sensed Ye Zhixun’s pheromones at last and realized she hadn’t been wrong about how to open the pearl clam.
She tugged at the collar of her cashmere sweater, exposing the gland at the nape of her neck.
“Ready now?” Yu Li murmured.
Ye Zhixun’s teeth chattered, she couldn’t answer.
The pheromones she couldn’t release on her own now surged uncontrollably, stirred by Yu Li’s scent.
Before her was Yu Li’s gland, her hair swept aside as she waited.
Ye Zhixun swallowed hard and pressed her lips forward.
All the theoretical knowledge swirling in her head proved useless in practice. Her mind went blank as she bit down without thinking.
Her fangs pierced the gland, alpha pheromones flooding into the omega’s body through the wound.
Though her scent was usually too faint to distinguish any floral notes, it turned domineering once inside the gland.
Yu Li’s legs weakened, her balance faltering until a hand steadied her lower back.
Ye Zhixun had bitten too deep. The pain at her neck was sharp, and Yu Li instinctively tilted her head away, only for Ye Zhixun’s other hand to grip her head, holding her in place.
Yu Li felt like prey caught in a predator’s jaws, her throat too tight to even cry out. She gasped for air, fighting the suffocating sensation.
Even though the alpha was the one injecting pheromones into her, it felt as if her blood was being drained instead.
During their time in the isolation room, everything had been hazy her memories unclear. But now, fully conscious, she realized this was what marking truly felt like.
The obedient alpha had bared her fangs, revealing the dominance inherent to her kind.
She could smell the pheromones. The temporary mark was taking effect.
Yet… this wasn’t what she had expected.
The ringing phone pulled Yu Li out of her suffocating state. Her gland ached sharply, and her waist felt uncomfortably restrained by Ye Zhixun’s grip. The other woman showed no signs of stopping.
“Ye Zhixun, that’s enough!” Yu Li commanded, though her own voice surprised her, soft with a trembling edge.
Ye Zhixun either didn’t hear or couldn’t tear herself away from Yu Li’s gland. Yu Li felt Ye Zhixun’s breathing grow ragged against her skin, each exhale like tiny needles pricking her, sending waves of unbearable itchiness.
“Ye Zhixun, if you don’t let go now, I’ll—” Yu Li threatened, frustration creeping into her voice.
Only then did Ye Zhixun jerk back as if breaking free from chains, releasing Yu Li’s gland. The skin on the back of her neck was flushed red, the bite mark stark against it.
Ye Zhixun inhaled sharply and quickly stepped back.
“Sorry, I, I didn’t mean to,” she stammered, realizing she’d messed up again.
Her first day “on the job,” and she’d already failed the task.
She hadn’t been able to control herself.
When she bit into Yu Li’s gland, Yu Li’s pheromones flooded into her richer, more intoxicating than what lingered in the air, laced with a creamy sweetness.
Her earlier instinct had been right: this was the most delicious thing she’d ever encountered. Even better than she’d imagined.
And then, the moment her teeth sank in, all reason abandoned her.
She forgot every bit of theory she’d studied.
Yu Li, legs weak, sank onto the nearby couch to catch her breath, arching a brow at Ye Zhixun, who stood there like a scolded child, fumbling apologies.
“Review the materials again,” Yu Li finally said, withholding further reprimand.
The unspoken message was clear: Ye Zhixun’s temporary marking had been a disaster. She still had much to learn.
“Yeah, I’ll go over them,” Ye Zhixun muttered, ashamed of her poor performance.
After cramming all night, this was the result and her “supervisor” was far from satisfied.
Yu Li steadied her breathing. Just as she began to recover, the phone rang again.
“Yes, I’ll be right down,” she answered before grabbing her coat and heading for the door.
Only then did Ye Zhixun remember the theory she’d neglected earlier.
Yu Li leaving like this she’d be uncomfortable.
But before she could speak, Yu Li was already gone.
Yu Li, long accustomed to suppressants, had far greater tolerance for discomfort than Ye Zhixun expected.
The so-called “optimal state” of a temporary mark? She’d never experienced it.
So when she stepped out, she felt… fine.
Aside from the lingering ache in her gland and the phantom grip around her waist, everything else was manageable.
During the meeting, several alphas released their pheromones.
Normally, Yu Li would endure the discomfort, her gland throbbing as she forced herself to focus.
But now, Ye Zhixun’s brief mark had left traces of her scent in Yu Li’s bloodstream, wrapping her body in an invisible shield.
The usual distress was muted; only the bite’s sting remained.
It lightened Yu Li’s mood slightly.
At least the marriage contract hadn’t been a complete waste.
“How are you feeling?” Qin Nanzhen handed Yu Li a cup of hot water after the meeting, concern in her voice.
“I’m fine. Help me schedule a meeting with Philippe’s private banquet,” Yu Li replied, accepting the cup.
“You want to attend? But you must bring a partner. Are you planning to find one last minute?” Qin Nanzhen asked.
“Yes. Help me inquire about how to get an invitation,” Yu Li replied.
“Alright. But if the person you find last minute is exposed as a fake, it won’t look good,” Qin Nanzhen cautioned.
“Let’s secure the invitation first,” Yu Li said with a frown.
Given how terrified Ye Zhixun was of her, it would be a miracle if they weren’t found out.
She’d deal with that later. The main goal was to attend the private banquet and dispel the suspicions of Philier’s wife not to flaunt their relationship.
“You’ve handed over sales and raw gemstone imports to them now. Do you still have the energy to discuss the year-end show with Philier? Even if you reach an agreement with him, what’s the point if something unexpected happens at the shareholders’ meeting? It’d all just be paving the way for others,” Qin Nanzhen pressed.
“Some things still need to be done,” Yu Li said calmly.
Qin Nanzhen had been uneasy, but seeing Yu Li so composed, she decided not to overthink it.
“With the shareholders’ meeting approaching, I’ve noticed more online smear campaigns against you. Should we have the PR team monitor them? I doubt they’ll work nonstop for 24 hours,” Qin Nanzhen brought up another matter.
Yu Li had no time for social media, but Qin Nanzhen kept an eye on it.
“No need. Let them stir up trouble for now. They’ll clarify things eventually,” Yu Li shook her head.
“…Then, stay off the internet and rest when you can,” Qin Nanzhen said. She fully supported Yu Li’s plans, but it pained her to think Yu Li would endure days of online harassment.
While Yu Li was at work, Ye Zhixun reviewed theories and researched further, once again becoming a master of the subject.
She had classes during the day, so after preparing lunch ingredients for Yu Li, she left for campus.
Ye Zhixun arrived a few minutes early and took out a book to read.
“That stunning beauty Yu Li is trending again. Last time, it was about her spending the night with a married alpha. This time, it’s even more absurd they’re saying she seduced designer Philier to secure a collaboration, angering his wife so much that she wasn’t even invited to the banquet…”
“Who would’ve thought? That icy beauty persona is just an act. The Yu Jewelry figurehead might put on a good front, but behind the scenes…”
Two people ahead were gossiping, mentioning Yu Li.
Before the second could finish, Ye Zhixun frowned, set her book down, and tapped the speaker’s shoulder.
“It’s not right to gossip about others, especially with such malicious assumptions,” Ye Zhixun said sternly.
She wasn’t one to meddle, but the subject of their gossip was her contractual spouse, her omega.
The two fell silent under Ye Zhixun’s cold, righteous gaze.
“Ye Zhixun, still hung up on Yu Qi? Now you’re even defending her sister? Pathetic!”
“We’re not making this up, it’s all over the internet. If Yu Li, the face of Yu Jewelry, can’t even suppress scandals like this, who wouldn’t question their validity?”
“Online rumors are one thing, but please refrain from spreading malicious speculation in person,” Ye Zhixun countered.
Her principled demeanor and icy stare left the two at a loss. With the class bell ringing, they dropped the matter.
After class, Ye Zhixun checked her phone for the trending topics about Yu Li.
Alongside the new scandal, she also uncovered resurfaced old rumors.
Ye Zhixun wasn’t clear about other matters, but on Yu Qi’s birthday, Yu Li had been with her.
They had left together too.
The person in the screenshot merely resembled Yu Li in stature the clothes and hair were completely different from what Yu Li had worn that day.
Yet those posting the articles claimed Yu Li had spent the night in a hotel with a married alpha based on that incorrect image.
This was clearly slander.
Ye Zhixun saw Yu Li’s interview with the jewelry connoisseur for socialites. That day, Yu Li had just been with her…
At first, Yu Li couldn’t even stand up and had to be carried away by the woman who came with her.
Yet in the interview, Yu Li acted as if nothing had happened.
Ye Zhixun recalled what Yu Li had said to Qin Nanzhen that day, and it all matched up.
Yu Li knew people were trying to smear her and had her own countermeasures.
But she still endured so much baseless abuse from countless people.
Among the omegas Ye Zhixun had met, some were gentle and wise like her grandmother, others cheerful and talkative like her aunt, or sweet and adorable like Yu Qi.
But Yu Li was the first of her kind.
When she returned at noon to cook, Ye Zhixun carefully considered Yu Li’s recent preferences, wanting to prepare a proper meal.
But before the food was ready, she received a message from Yu Li saying she wouldn’t be back for lunch.
Ye Zhixun stored the prepared ingredients in the fridge, planning to cook them in the afternoon.
That afternoon, after editing and uploading videos at her place, Ye Zhixun checked the trending topics again.
The negative news about Yu Li was still gaining traction.
Reading those comments made Ye Zhixun angry, wondering why Yu Li hadn’t responded.
Yu Li wasn’t someone who would take bullying lying down.
The hashtag about Yu Li remained trending all afternoon.
Ye Zhixun had once learned some hacking skills from someone and knew a bit.
With time to spare that afternoon, she took down a few particularly offensive accounts.
But this was merely a drop in the ocean compared to the massive army of trolls.
When heading to Weigang Residence that evening, Ye Zhixun wanted to ask Yu Li about it.
Upon arriving, she found Yu Li at home, curled up on the living room sofa, her slender frame looking fragile.
There was no scent of pheromones or alcohol in the air.
“Sister!” Ye Zhixun called out softly as she approached.
Yu Li responded with a faint hum but didn’t move.
Ye Zhixun reached out to touch Yu Li’s forehead, it was burning hot.
“Sister, you have a fever. Have you taken any medicine?” Ye Zhixun asked.
Yu Li just hummed again, leaning slightly toward Ye Zhixun.
Hmm, the pearl oyster had clamped shut tight, giving off no scent at all.