Yu Li had been busy all day.
A major custom order was canceled today, costing millions in material fees, design fees, and labor. One of the company’s veteran craftsmen injured his hand, affecting several custom orders. When she tried to bring in another equally experienced craftsman, he excused himself by claiming illness.
The marketing department under her supervision also ran into trouble, the lead photographer of the originally scheduled team had jumped ship, and the new style was completely different from what she wanted.
Obstacles everywhere. Yu Li didn’t need to guess this was yet another attempt to pressure her into stepping down.
After dealing with the pile of company issues, her mother summoned her to the Yu family estate.
“Your father hasn’t been home for days he’s been with that woman. Your grandfather keeps blaming me for failing to raise you properly. The rumors outside are damaging your reputation. Many of our big clients come from our social circle if your image suffers, who will want to do business with us? Ah Li, wouldn’t it be easier to come home, focus on your husband and children, and live comfortably?”
Her delicate omega mother clutched Yu Li’s hand, her voice laced with worry.
Her grip was slender and weak, yet it made Yu Li feel as though she were being dragged into a dark, suffocating mire.
She refused to live like that.
Her body had already been unwell her illness hadn’t fully healed, leaving her with a persistent low-grade fever. Exhausted yet unable to rest, her mind remained tightly wound.
Her mood sank further, as if hands coated in black filth were pulling her down.
After handling the endless tasks, Yu Li wanted to return to Victoria Harbour Court to rest. On the way, she checked Ye Zhixun’s location on her phone and directed the driver to pick her up so they could return together. At least she could inhale Ye Zhixun’s pheromones during the ride.
When Yu Li arrived near Ye Zhixun, she spotted the young alpha from afar amidst the crowd.
Tall, with a sleek high ponytail and sporty attire radiating youthful energy.
Simple and uncomplicated.
The photos Qin Nanzhen had sent before hadn’t evoked such a strong reaction.
But now, seeing Ye Zhixun surrounded by people, with young omegas stealing glances or even boldly approaching her their gazes either fervent or shy, Yu Li felt something stir inside her.
The same omega from the photos reappeared.
Bright and charming, her eyes sparkling when she looked at Ye Zhixun.
That same unease resurfaced in Yu Li’s heart.
Was the contract signed for nothing?
Yu Li called Ye Zhixun into the car.
Watching the alpha shift from her natural, relaxed demeanor in the crowd to stiff awkwardness in front of her, Yu Li’s mischievous impulses flared, she wanted to tease this little alpha.
She demanded a temporary mark but deliberately withheld her pheromones, refusing to “provoke” Ye Zhixun.
Sitting on Ye Zhixun’s lap was something she hadn’t planned.
But feeling the alpha’s entire body tense up, Yu Li relaxed slightly.
From her seated position, she looked down at Ye Zhixun, her gaze cool and detached.
Ye Zhixun, nervous under her scrutiny, felt her face burn. Her body stiffened, especially where their legs touched.
[Help.]
How could someone maintain such an aloof, restrained expression while doing something so boldly provocative and still exude such intimidating dominance?
“Is this more convenient?” Yu Li asked.
Ye Zhixun’s scalp prickled. She didn’t dare meet Yu Li’s eyes, only nodding stiffly.
“Then begin,” Yu Li said.
Ye Zhixun floundered.
Without pheromones released, no amount of effort would work.
After a moment’s thought, she decided to at least follow the steps.
According to The Perfect Marking Rules, the first step is to soothe the omega’s gland, putting them in a relaxed and comfortable state to prepare for receiving the mark.
If she caught a whiff of Yu Li’s pheromones, her own scent might be triggered that’s how it had gone the past few times.
Ye Zhixun had a well-thought-out plan, but she stumbled at the very first step.
Yu Li wasn’t wearing a loose sweater but a button-up shirt.
The collar covered part of her neck, concealing the gland.
She didn’t dare.
Help…
Ye Zhixun’s hands hovered uncertainly.
“Didn’t learn how? Or are you just out of strength? Weren’t you just helping an omega carry her bag?”
Yu Li’s voice reached her, her cool fingertips tapping lightly under Ye Zhixun’s chin.
Ye Zhixun’s fingers trembled as she hesitantly reached to undo the buttons.
She suspected Yu Li was deliberately punishing her.
The big boss was terrifying.
She’d have to reread the agreement later, interpreting every word ten, no, twenty times more strictly.
Even though it was just undoing a few buttons, Ye Zhixun’s throat had already gone dry.
Yu Li’s neck was slender and graceful, pale and soft.
When her fingers accidentally brushed against it while unbuttoning, the delicate, smooth texture sent a faint electric current through her.
Two buttons undoing them felt like running a kilometer, leaving her palms slick with sweat.
With the collar loosened, Ye Zhixun gently pulled it down and leaned in.
Her marking teeth weren’t ready yet.
Naturally, she didn’t bite the gland only her lips drew close.
Her tongue lightly traced over it.
Like disinfecting with an alcohol swab before an injection.
Yu Li had been watching with amusement, waiting to see how the flustered alpha would beg for help.
But when the other leaned in, Yu Li felt something glide over the sensitive skin of her gland hot, scorching.
The skin around her neck instantly flushed pink.
Ye Zhixun felt Yu Li’s body shiver slightly.
The neck right before her eyes, once cool and pale, had turned rosy in an instant.
So even someone so aloof and domineering could be this sensitive could blush like this.
Ye Zhixun’s tongue traced over Yu Li’s gland again.
Yu Li no longer needed to consciously release her pheromones.
The scent of roses first seeped from the gland.
That patch of skin, previously unremarkable save for being slightly thinner than the surrounding area, now seemed irresistibly enticing to Ye Zhixun.
“Ye Zhixun, you, stop fooling around.” Yu Li’s voice came out as her hand pressed against Ye Zhixun’s shoulder.
“Sister, the book I read said this is the proper procedure. Didn’t you know? Following the steps ensures an effective temporary mark.” Ye Zhixun remained nestled against Yu Li’s shoulder, her breath tickling Yu Li’s skin, making her want to shrink away.
Hearing this, Yu Li fell silent.
Though she had told Ye Zhixun to study books and videos, she herself had never marked anyone nor had she ever bothered to learn.
Was what Ye Zhixun said really the way to make the mark effective?
Yu Li wasn’t convinced.
But at this point, whether she believed it or not no longer mattered.
Yu Li’s pheromones had emboldened Ye Zhixun.
After repeating the same motions over the gland a few more times, more pheromones were released.
The fragrance of roses, then citrus, spilled out one after another, blending together thin at first, then growing richer.
It was a strangely exhilarating experience.
Ye Zhixun felt like she was cooking a dish.
With the right heat, the ingredients would turn out perfectly delicious.
That small patch of skin was as soft as jelly, turning from pink to a deep rouge.
As Yu Li’s pheromones reached a certain concentration, Ye Zhixun’s pheromones were triggered in response.
Yu Li felt extremely awkward.
This was supposed to be her punishing Ye Zhixun, yet now she was the one involuntarily releasing pheromones.
The little alpha buried against her neck was like a puppy she had encountered as a child, when someone reached out to pet it, it would affectionately lick their fingers.
Did Ye Zhixun think she was a dog?
Did she really need to take so long with the preparations?
Yu Li thought irritably.
Kissing to soothe the scent gland, allowing their pheromones to mingle and adjust before marking this would help the omega better accept the alpha’s pheromones.
This was what Ye Zhixun had read in the best-selling book.
So now, keeping the theory firmly in mind, even as her marking fangs tingled with the urge to release pheromones, she didn’t immediately mark Yu Li.
“Ye Zhixun!” Yu Li called out impatiently, almost through gritted teeth.
Ye Zhixun didn’t have time to respond. She simply reached out to gently stroke Yu Li’s back, pulling the woman who was about to leave back into place, then sank her teeth into Yu Li’s scent gland, piercing the skin with her marking fangs.
Like a ripe citrus at harvest, bursting with juice.
Ye Zhixun’s fangs were fully prepared, her pheromones abundant.
A faint floral scent, carrying the alpha’s innate dominance, crashed over Yu Li like a tidal wave.
The suffocating intensity left Yu Li struggling to breathe again.
This marking was indeed different from before.
Yu Li couldn’t quite pinpoint how.
The alpha biting her was no puppy now, she was a starving wolf, clamping down and refusing to let go.
Originally sitting upright, Yu Li didn’t know when her body had gone limp, cradled in Ye Zhixun’s arms, her head tilting back as Ye Zhixun leaned over her.
Yu Li sank into the airplane seat, held tightly by Ye Zhixun, her breathing heavy, her eyes unfocused, the red at the corners of her eyes smudged.
Her vision blurred, flashes of dazzling light appearing as if the alpha had dragged her into another world time itself seemed to freeze in that moment.
This marking felt unbearably long to Yu Li.
By the time Ye Zhixun finally pulled away from her neck, Yu Li was still dazed, her body limp, devoid of any strength, simply molding herself to Ye Zhixun’s hold.
Ye Zhixun felt her own breathing ragged and uneven.
The moment she looked up and saw Yu Li, it grew even more chaotic.
Yu Li’s pristine, wrinkle-free blouse had been crumpled beyond recognition by Ye Zhixun’s grip, and the area around her scent gland was even more of a mess.
The commanding presence Yu Li had exuded earlier was gone now, in Ye Zhixun’s arms, she was just an omega freshly marked, still disoriented, soft and radiating a sweet fragrance.
The temporary mark had also brought color back to Yu Li’s lips now a tender pink, looking irresistibly kissable.
The moment this thought surfaced in Ye Zhixun’s mind, she startled herself.
This was only a temporary mark. Yu Li had never agreed to anything more.
It was just the pheromones affecting her.
Suppressing her thoughts, Ye Zhixun stayed silent, not wanting to disturb Yu Li, and simply pulled her into another embrace.
Yu Li rested her chin on Ye Zhixun’s shoulder, looking utterly docile.
After a while, the scent of pheromones in the car gradually faded. Yu Li stopped releasing pheromones, and Ye Zhixun’s marking fangs also settled down.
Ye Zhixun felt much calmer now and released Yu Li. When she tried to call out to her, she noticed Yu Li had closed her eyes, breathing evenly as if she had fallen asleep.
At this moment, Yu Li looked even softer, almost delicate in appearance.
Unsure how long Yu Li had gone without rest, Ye Zhixun didn’t wake her upon seeing her doze off so quickly. Instead, she quietly held her in the car, waiting.
Soon after, Yu Li’s driver and bodyguard, Uncle Zhao, knocked on the car window.
“Uncle Zhao, let’s head back to Victoria Harbour Court,” Ye Zhixun said from inside the car.
Yu Li didn’t wake up even when they arrived at Victoria Harbour Court.
Carefully carrying Yu Li out of the car, Ye Zhixun took the elevator directly to Yu Li’s apartment.
After bringing Yu Li to the bedroom, Ye Zhixun gently laid her on the bed, removed her shoes, and covered her with a blanket.
With her arms now empty, Ye Zhixun stared at Yu Li for a moment before shaking her head vigorously to snap out of it.
Dinner time was approaching, so Ye Zhixun went out to prepare the meal.
Once the food was ready, she quietly called out to Yu Li in the bedroom.
Yu Li didn’t wake up.
Ye Zhixun raised her voice slightly.
Having not rested well for a long time, Yu Li didn’t want to get up now. The noise irritated her, and when she opened her eyes, her gaze was sharp.
“Stop bothering me. Get out,” Yu Li said before turning over to continue sleeping.
“…” Ye Zhixun felt the sting of Yu Li’s glare and didn’t dare to try waking her again.
Confirming that Yu Li had a temper when woken up, Ye Zhixun decided not to disturb her further.
She carefully closed the door and placed the prepared dinner on a warming tray.
By nine o’clock, Yu Li still hadn’t woken up. Ye Zhixun sent her a message before leaving.
Yu Li woke up in the middle of the night, hungry.
Checking her phone, she saw it was past three in the morning.
Ye Zhixun had already left.
Still groggy, Yu Li got up and went to the bathroom.
After freshening up, she headed to the dining room for a meal.
The food was still warm on the warming tray, covered with a lid. When Yu Li opened it, steam rose from the dishes.
After a good sleep and a satisfying meal, Yu Li felt as if she had come back to life something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
The discomfort in her glands had noticeably eased.
She felt that this difficult estrus cycle was finally over.
That little alpha hadn’t lied to her she must have been studying seriously.
This had been an effective marking.
Yu Li picked up her phone and transferred a bonus to Ye Zhixun.
In the dead of night, Ye Zhixun was still awake, battling online trolls.
She had only taken down a few accounts earlier before planning to sleep, but tonight her fighting spirit was unusually strong.
When her phone buzzed, she was typing with one hand while checking the notification with the other.
“Your savings account ending XXXX has received… Note: Pocket money”
Seeing this message, Ye Zhixun dropped her phone in shock, fumbling to catch it before reading it again carefully.
Yu Li had just transferred her a six-figure sum as pocket money!!