Chapter 35: Reverse Temporary Marking
The entire bedroom transformed into a pear orchard.
Countless pear saplings seemed to sprout, grow, blossom, and bear fruit in an instant, snow-white, sweet pears covering the ground.
For someone who loved pears, this undoubtedly signified a great temptation, an enticement, even an invitation to blossom and bear fruit.
Zhu Yiqiao pursed her lips.
She stood under the main light of the bedroom. Although she had removed her cloak, she was still wearing the dark uniform of the Trial Court, the outer buttons of the uniform and the inner buttons of her shirt fastened to the top.
People admired her, and even the light seemed to favor her, illuminating her like a snow goddess statue from mythology.
She looked back at the person on the bed, a hint of amusement and deeper meaning in her usually calm blue eyes.
“Do you feel it now?” she asked.
Ming Fei, whose condition had just improved a little, nodded, stunned and embarrassed.
“…But, I’ve already had a suppressant injection, why is this still happening?” She tried to find some clues. “Is it because my gland was injured?”
Zhu Yiqiao’s attention was caught by the second half of her sentence.
“Your gland was injured?”
“Mm.”
Ming Fei explained, “My gland was injured when I first differentiated. Later, I went to the hospital for treatment and examination, and the doctor said that my gland would probably never produce pheromones again, and I wouldn’t have heat cycles, nor would I be able to perceive the pheromones of other alphas or omegas.”
“—They informed me that my differentiation level was F, the lowest level alpha.”
According to the Ole Empire’s classification criteria, defective alphas included those with failed gland differentiation, severely damaged glands, severe pheromone disorders, and many other conditions.
Correspondingly, the Ole Empire, which viewed pheromone differentiation as natural evolution, a divine gift, placed many restrictions on the lowest-ranking defective alphas.
For example, they couldn’t work in government departments.
When applying for schools and majors, they could only apply last.
Zhu Yiqiao had originally thought that Ming Fei’s rating was due to other reasons, but she hadn’t expected it to be a damaged gland, which was generally considered the most painful condition.
The reason “painful” was used to describe it was because an alpha or omega’s gland was very fragile and thin, and any slight pain would be amplified countless times, let alone a severe injury that directly resulted in being classified as a defective alpha.
She said, “I understand. There’s no better solution at the moment. Try another injection?”
Ming Fei replied, “Okay.”
So, in the next two minutes, Ming Fei received a second suppressant injection.
This injection should have been more effective, but even after five minutes, the pheromone concentration in the room didn’t decrease, and the pheromone bracelet on Zhu Yiqiao’s wrist even flashed blue five times.
[Detected excessively high pheromone concentration, please be careful!!!]
The three exclamation points were enough to show how high the pheromone concentration in the room was.
And because the suppressant wasn’t working, Ming Fei’s fever continued to rise, her fair cheeks turning as red as Taiya’s chili peppers.
…So hot.
Why was this happening?
Was she going to turn into a human torch like in the games? She wondered.
At this moment, Ming Fei, who was usually extremely afraid of the cold, wanted to become one of the snowmen randomly piled up on the roadside. Or soak in a bathtub full of ice, using the simplest and most primitive method to cool down.
But even though she felt very uncomfortable, she didn’t show any signs of impatience or loss of control. The pear scent she emitted was still as gentle as a spring breeze.
Realizing that the injection didn’t seem to be working immediately, Ming Fei’s first words were out of consideration for Zhu Yiqiao.
“…Jiejie, are my pheromones making you uncomfortable?”
“If they are, just leave me alone.” She paused. “Or, you can handcuff me first.”
Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Handcuff you?”
“Mm.” Her voice was a little hoarse. “I know a verbal promise won’t convince you that I won’t lose control. Handcuffing me would be more credible, and you would be safer.”
For some reason, seeing her like this… made Zhu Yiqiao feel a pang of pity.
Usually, Teacher Xiao Fei was gentle and calm, her attire simple and elegant due to her profession as a teacher.
But at this moment, her long hair was loose and a little messy, her porcelain-white cheeks flushed crimson, the corners of her eyes red, her exposed neck also tinged with red, her lips slightly pursed, and those almond eyes, so similar to Ming Zaozao’s, were like a lake suddenly covered with mist.
…Ming Zaozao.
If Ming Zaozao knew that she had handcuffed Ming Fei, she would probably be angry and sad and ignore her.
Or, like before, she would cry endlessly.
In short, she would be heartbroken for a long time.
She thought, handcuffing Ming Fei was indeed the correct first choice, but she didn’t want Ming Zaozao to cry.
That was her daughter.
Her tears would also affect her emotions.
After some thought, Zhu Yiqiao calmly made another choice. But she didn’t realize that this was already the third time she had made an exception for someone.
And she didn’t delve deeper into why she had repeatedly made exceptions for a single person, for a single reason. What was the reason?
She released a very small amount of her pheromones, her expression still cold and frosty, but when her pheromones touched the pear scent, they were almost joyful enough to announce to everyone with a loudspeaker—
—So fragrant.
—So sweet.
—Can’t I just have a taste of this sweet pear?
Zhu Yiqiao walked to the edge of the bed without taking out the silver handcuffs she had used on Ming Fei before, instead giving Ming Fei the initiative to choose.
“We are in Taiya now, you only have two choices.”
“One, endure it yourself.” She said, word by word, “Two, I’ll help you.”
The former was clearly very painful. Ming Fei asked in a low voice, “Help me? How will Jiejie help me?”
“It’s very simple.”
Zhu Yiqiao said, “The Ole Empire’s royal family, in order to control the pheromone differentiation of its citizens, issued a ban hundreds of years ago, prohibiting any form of marking except between alphas and omegas.”
“But in fact, any group can mark each other, even in reverse. Alphas and omegas can, and alphas and alphas can too.”
Ming Fei, who hadn’t paid much attention in physiology class, was confused, her attention completely focused on the second half of the sentence.
The books said that the pheromones between members of the same group were basically mutually repulsive. Could alphas and alphas… actually mark each other?
If it was really possible.
Was Zhu Yiqiao telling her this because she wanted to temporarily mark her?
Eh? Temporary marking!?
Ming Fei’s thoughts gradually cleared, and she immediately rejected this option without thinking.
After all, such an intimate act could only happen between partners who had established a true intimate relationship. And she and Zhu Yiqiao were only in a contract marriage, so it wasn’t appropriate to do such a thing.
Therefore, she refused: “Jiejie, I choose the first option.”
Zhu Yiqiao didn’t seem surprised: “Are you sure?”
Ming Fei nodded firmly: “Mm, I’m sure.”
The woody scent, like a passing snowstorm, was enveloped by the sweet pear scent, completely immersed in the sweet fragrance of the pear, and utterly captivated.
After sensing that her pheromones were becoming increasingly greedy, Zhu Yiqiao, respecting Ming Fei’s wishes, stopped releasing her pheromones and told her what she might face if she chose the first option.
“Your situation is special.”
“Suppressants are ineffective. Your gland is damaged, yet you have pheromones and a heat cycle. If you want to endure it, there’s a high probability of facing danger.”
Ming Fei asked, puzzled, “What danger?”
“Fainting, loss of control, irreversible pheromone diseases caused by high fever.”
Zhu Yiqiao calmly stated the final outcome: “Even—death.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the gentle pear scent, as if sensing Ming Fei’s shock and astonishment, slowed its surge, causing the other pheromone, which had been excitedly playing, to become dissatisfied.
Ming Fei was stunned for a moment.
Because the impact of “death” was too great.
She loved the world she had transmigrated to and had gained a lot here. Most importantly—she had a daughter who shared her blood.
She didn’t want to give up all this, and she couldn’t gamble with life and death with such a small probability of success.
Against the backdrop of death, the feasibility of the first option immediately dropped to below ten percent.
Ming Fei buried her flushed face in her hands, took a deep breath, and then raised her head and asked,
“How does Jiejie know all this?”
Whether before or after knowing Ming Fei’s alpha identity, Zhu Yiqiao, in her high position, knew everything about Ming Fei’s life after her transmigration.
They held the same secret, but the information gap between them was like a chasm.
Zhu Yiqiao decided to be generous: “Because before transmigrating, I was a member of the Ole Empire’s royal family.”
Hearing this, Ming Fei finally understood the source of Zhu Yiqiao’s information, and her trust in her deepened. After all, the royal family controlled everything in the Ole Empire, and even the servants who served the royal family knew more than ordinary people.
She tentatively asked, “Is there really no other option?”
“No.”
After a moment of silence, Ming Fei asked apologetically, “Will a temporary mark between two alphas have any negative effects on Jiejie’s body?”
Hearing this question, Zhu Yiqiao, still as aloof as an untouchable flower, looked at Ming Fei, but her pheromones became even more excited, almost urging her to release more, wanting to fill the white flesh of this pear with her scent.
“No.”
Zhu Yiqiao said, “I will help you maintain stability until we return to the Independent State of Yi Meng.”
“What about after that?”
“You’ll know when we get back.”
Ming Fei’s eyelashes fluttered with embarrassment. After all, it was a little awkward to change her mind so decisively after making a decision.
But she didn’t want to waste any more time. She knew that Zhu Yiqiao had a lot to do after the attack at the banquet, so she directly unbuttoned her pajamas, turned sideways, and exposed her gland, as unguarded as a gentle and loyal canine.
“Sorry to trouble you, Jiejie.”
Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze first landed on the scar in the center of the gland, very faint, but clearly a knife wound. Gradually, the playful woody scent calmed down, and as if comforting, surrounded the pear scent it uniquely favored.
A spring tide surged in the room, the two pheromones intertwining.
This was the first time Ming Fei directly experienced Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones.
Her lack of physiological knowledge prevented her from recognizing that this wasn’t an alpha’s pheromone at all, and the temporary marking they were about to undergo was actually a reverse temporary marking, from an omega to an alpha.
In the public perception of the Ole Empire, only alphas could mark omegas; there was no such thing as an omega marking an alpha.
Firstly, because it had always been this way.
Secondly, because alphas were unwilling to be marked by omegas, who were considered to be in a weaker position, even though a reverse temporary marking wouldn’t have any effect.
Therefore, even though the pain an omega endured during a marking far outweighed the pleasure, they were always told that they could only be marked, never mark.
The pheromone concentration in the room reached its peak.
Ming Fei waited quietly, a little nervous about the unknown, but didn’t show it, trusting Zhu Yiqiao completely.
A cold fragrance approached.
The person behind her said slowly, “One last time, are you sure?”
Ming Fei didn’t look back: “Mm.”
Then—
Fangs pierced her gland, and Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones gradually merged with hers. As her head spun, the burning heat in her body receded like a tide.
A temporary marking lasted only a short time.
Especially a reverse temporary marking.
Zhu Yiqiao watched Ming Fei’s condition with her peripheral vision, while Ming Fei was stiff as a wooden figure.
A reverse temporary marking from an omega to an alpha could indeed have a certain soothing effect, enough to alleviate the premonition of a heat cycle.
But Zhu Yiqiao also knew very well that the effect of a reverse temporary marking, compared to an alpha’s marking of an omega, was actually very different.
When an alpha’s heat cycle truly arrived, the effect of a reverse temporary marking was negligible.
And if it really reached the point where a proper marking was needed…
Her thoughts raced, and the color of Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes deepened.
Soon, the reverse temporary marking ended, and the resulting pheromone fusion made Ming Fei clearly perceive that Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones seemed reluctant to leave.
Like flowers nourished by the spring rain, longingly wishing for the rain to fall again and stay forever.
Why the reluctance?
…Was it because they were very compatible?
This made Ming Fei feel a little strange, but she didn’t think too much about it, after all, pheromones were complex and difficult to understand.
She buttoned up her pajamas, and after sensing that there was nothing unusual about her body, she subconsciously looked at Zhu Yiqiao.
Because of the reverse temporary marking, they were very close, and Ming Fei hadn’t completely recovered from her drowsy state.
When she suddenly turned her head, Zhu Yiqiao also suddenly moved forward. So, before their eyes met, Ming Fei’s soft lips brushed against Zhu Yiqiao’s chin.
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