Qiao Jiao had her own considerations for saying these words.
First of all, Qiao Yi had long since told her that Duan Jinwei was a low-level Alpha and therefore lacked the natural aggressiveness of a normal Alpha.
She had a certificate, excellent academic performance, and serving as her marker was completely safe.
Secondly, she had previously experienced being marked by Duan Jinwei.
The other party was indeed very professional.
Duan Jinwei stood frozen in place, gazing blankly at the cold and distant woman in front of her, her mind completely blank.
She had never thought about becoming an Alpha marker, nor did she expect Qiao Jiao to extend such an invitation to her in this kind of setting.
“My pheromones are in an unstable state year-round, and my glands also have old injuries,” Qiao Jiao said. “But after you marked me that day, my glands eased significantly, and even the discomfort lessened by more than half. Jiang Na also mentioned to me that I need a fixed Alpha marker by my side for the long term.”
“Since you’ve already marked me once, you might as well keep doing it. I wonder if you have any interest?”
After finishing, Qiao Jiao quietly watched Duan Jinwei, waiting for her answer.
A long silence settled into the air.
Duan Jinwei managed to say, “My glands are broken.”
Qiao Jiao looked at her with a hint of confusion.
Duan Jinwei raised a stiff hand, lifted her hair, and showed it to Qiao Jiao.
Sure enough, on the girl’s slender, fair nape, there was a rather large wound. The injury was red, tinged with a faint bruised purple. It looked quite severe and must have been very painful, it resembled a bite or grip mark.
With a delayed realization, Qiao Jiao understood that this was something she herself had done in the private room that day.
Was this lifting a rock only to drop it on her own feet?
Duan Jinwei looked at Qiao Jiao as cold sweat slid down her back.
She hoped Qiao Jiao would believe her, but Qiao Jiao merely looked back at her without saying a word.
A trace of a delicate floral scent suddenly welled up, softly wrapping around the tip of her nose.
Duan Jinwei’s brain gave a soft hum.
This was an Omega’s pheromone, carrying a hint of distress, soft and clinging as it drilled thread by thread into the Alpha’s glands.
In an instant, a wave-like surge of heartache swept over her.
Duan Jinwei’s head grew hot, and instinctively, she refused to let her Omega suffer any harm.
Alphas were such a barbarous creature, regardless of what she thought in her mind, because she had marked Qiao Jiao before, her body had long since regarded the woman in front of her as her own Omega.
The glands on the back of her neck twitched as if beyond her control.
Subconsciously, she released her own pheromones to respond and soothe. At the same time, her marking teeth began to secrete pheromones.
Gulp…
Duan Jinwei swallowed hard.
Her pheromones and Qiao Jiao’s pheromones intertwined together.
Qiao Jiao watched her for a long moment before shifting her gaze away. Taking a sip of the soy milk on the table, she said softly, “Dr. Duan’s glands seem remarkably healthy.”
Could an Alpha with broken glands release their pheromones this smoothly?
The lie about her broken glands was instantly exposed.
Duan Jinwei shook her head almost instinctively: “I’m sorry, Sister. I never thought about becoming an Alpha marker.”
Qiao Jiao paused for a moment. “Then why did you take the test for that certificate?”
Lowering her head, Duan Jinwei replied in a voice no louder than a mosquito’s: “Because I wanted to safely mark Qiao Yi, that’s why I took the exam. I never thought about making a living from it.”
Qiao Jiao was genuinely taken aback, clearly not expecting this answer.
“Regular Alpha pheromone markers on the market charge anywhere from 800 to 5,000 per session, whether beginner or veteran. If you become my exclusive marker, the compensation I offer for a single marking is at least this much.”
Qiao Jiao raised her fingers, gesturing a number far exceeding market value.
“Won’t you consider it?”
“If you’re worried about Xiao Yi, don’t worry. I guarantee that during the term of the treatment agreement, you won’t have any chance to run into her.”
Duan Jinwei bit her lip.
Seeing through her hesitation, Qiao Jiao unhurriedly upped the stakes: “Being a marker requires a massive amount of clinical experience. Helping me heal the old injury in my glands is equivalent to tackling the trickiest case possible, which will serve as an exceptionally brilliant credential for your future career or advanced studies.”
“Besides, you’d be working at my home, the environment is quiet and private, much more reassuring than outside agencies.”
Duan Jinwei still didn’t speak, but her dainty eyebrows were already furrowed slightly.
Qiao Jiao stood up, glanced at the glasses resting on the table, and hooked them up casually with her fingertips.
Whether driven by some hidden impulse or not, she leisurely unfolded the glasses, leaned down, and steadily positioned them back across the bridge of Duan Jinwei’s nose with calm poise.
Duan Jinwei froze, blinking gently without putting up any struggle.
The pleasant, faint fragrance lingering around the woman drifted into the tip of her nose, soft as morning mist, leaving her mind completely blank.
“Dr. Duan, I won’t wait forever,” Qiao Jiao said softly. “If you still haven’t contacted me after the National Day holiday, I’ll make other arrangements.”