Chapter 38: Temporary Marking Doesn’t Work p1
Inside the pear-scented car, Ming Fei herself also sensed the abnormality in her pheromones.
The usual sweetness was now tinged with bitterness and sourness, like an unripe pear that had ripened too early, or perhaps overripe and starting to spoil.
She couldn’t quite understand her current situation, only deducing that it probably wasn’t a full heat cycle, because the high fever that had just subsided hadn’t returned.
But she was definitely uncomfortable, especially with the burning sensation behind her gland intensifying the pain.
…What should she do?
The temporary marking seemed to have stopped working.
And there were no extra suppressants in the car.
What should she do?
Was she just going to be a human air freshener, constantly emitting pheromones?
Ming Fei couldn’t think of a solution, and the release of her pheromones was accelerating.
Just as she was about to ask Zhu Yiqiao to speed up the hovercar so she could go back to the hotel and try the suppressants, the familiar high fever returned.
Eh?!!
Ming Fei’s eyes widened, and her slender, white fingers clenched the corner of her clothes.
Realizing the situation was getting worse, she immediately looked at Zhu Yiqiao in the driver’s seat.
“…Jiejie,” she said, “Could you stop the car and let me out by the roadside?”
The bracelet on Zhu Yiqiao’s wrist was already set to the highest level of suppression. She showed no outward sign, but her pheromones were constantly trying to surge out, attempting to soothe the pear scent.
“What are you planning to do?”
Ming Fei quickly explained, “We are both alphas. I know my pheromones will definitely affect you, but I don’t want that. You’ve helped me so many times, and I have no reason to affect you, offend you, or harm you when I can’t offer you any help.”
“After I get out of the car, I’ll find a hotel and get a room as an isolation room. Transport robots aren’t as fast as hovercars. If it’s convenient for Jiejie, I would like to… trouble you again to bring me two suppressant injections.”
Zhu Yiqiao turned to look at her, ripples appearing in her usually calm eyes.
“—Ming Fei.”
“Do you know what you’re saying?”
Ming Fei was already very uncomfortable. The uncontrolled pheromones, the returning high fever, and the burning sensation in her gland made her thoughts chaotic.
Even though her body was being scorched by hellfire, she didn’t lose control, only slightly furrowing her brows, her red lips pressed into a thin line.
She replied, “I know.”
“Have you forgotten the consequences I told you about last time?”
“But there’s no better solution.” She insisted, “And, I don’t think this is a premonition of a heat cycle, just that the burning sensation in my gland is much more severe than the fever, probably because my gland was injured.”
“Don’t worry, Jiejie, I can handle it.”
Zhu Yiqiao, sensing the surging pear scent, was skeptical of her pale explanation.
…A burning sensation in the gland?
If the gland was damaged, such an abnormal reaction could indeed occur.
The effect of the reverse temporary marking was minimal, but it should still be able to alleviate it.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yiqiao sat next to Ming Fei. Before Ming Fei could react, she took off the pheromone bracelet from her wrist and put it on Ming Fei’s.
“Let’s try a temporary marking first.”
Ming Fei, seeing her insistence, was both grateful and at a loss.
Because her pheromones and her limited knowledge of differentiation told her that frequent temporary markings in a short period would lead to both parties developing illusions of intimacy and dependence.
Zhu Yiqiao wasn’t her partner and had no reason to go this far for her.
She couldn’t accept Zhu Yiqiao’s help with a clear conscience, especially since Zhu Yiqiao had already helped her so many times. She already owed her a great debt of gratitude.
So, she tried to communicate with Zhu Yiqiao, letting her know the effects of frequent temporary markings.
But just as she was about to speak, she felt an… indescribable burning sensation in her gland. This burning sensation was different from the initial one, causing her pain and discomfort, but also making her lose her rationality and ability to think, intensifying her blurred consciousness.
But Ming Fei would never allow herself to lose control, let alone cross the line.
She resisted and endured, and when she found that her condition was worsening, she leaned over and took out a carving knife from the storage compartment on the right side of the car seat, left there by someone.
As the hovercar passed the statue of Winfella, a symbol of freedom and hope, Ming Fei, without hesitation, cut her palm with the sharp blade.
Instantly, a wound appeared on her flawless white palm.
Bright red blood immediately welled up, like a strange blood moon, casting a shadow of suppressed tenderness over this cruel and bloody scene.
“…Jiejie.”
The blood and pain made Ming Fei exceptionally clear-headed at this moment. Her first words were still out of consideration for Zhu Yiqiao.
“…Stop the car.”
The slight furrow in her brow had smoothed out, her gaze filled with forbearance and gentleness. She even comforted Zhu Yiqiao, who had faced life and death on the battlefield, telling her not to be afraid and promising that she wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.
Zhu Yiqiao found this moment utterly absurd.
She pursed her lips and snatched the knife from Ming Fei’s hand, preventing her from hurting herself again.
But as she reached for the carving knife, which Xue Xun had left in the hovercar, it fell to the ground with a clang, pushing the strange atmosphere in the car to its peak.
Instantly—
The rich pear scent receded like a tide.
A warm sensation touched her shoulder, a few strands of hair falling onto her dark uniform. Zhu Yiqiao looked at Ming Fei, who had fallen unconscious against her shoulder, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.
Chief Judge Zhu, whom the media described as aloof, indifferent, untouchable, and unattainable, didn’t immediately push the person aside.
She even took out medical supplies from the first aid kit and bandaged Ming Fei’s wound while making a call.
Soon, the call connected on the display screen.
“Boss, calling me during my break, is there something on your mind? Professional love advisor Xiao Lan is here to answer your questions. But the price is double during break time~”
Zhu Yiqiao’s expression was unreadable: “Return trip.”
Lan Lubai was a little surprised: “Although everything has been dealt with, aren’t our tickets for tomorrow? Even robots need rest, right? Did something happen?”
“Arrange my private aircraft, we’re returning in half an hour.”
Lan Lubai didn’t ask any further questions: “Okay, I understand.”
“Beep—”
The door suddenly opened, and the doctors entered the ward, looking at the patient in bed number 3 with pity.
“Little one, we are very sorry about your differentiation result.”
“If your gland hadn’t been injured, you would have become the most valued A-level alpha in the Ole Empire, the highest level alpha in the differentiation rankings.”
“But now, we can only regretfully inform you that you have become a defective alpha with a damaged gland, and your differentiation level is F.”
In this dream, Ming Fei clearly heard the answer she had given at the time.
“—Okay, thank you, doctor.”
The alpha in the hospital bed calmly accepted this fact, without a ripple of emotion in her dark almond eyes, as if it was just an ordinary matter that wouldn’t affect her life at all.
Perhaps because she appeared too indifferent, the beta nurse who was changing her dressing couldn’t help but ask,
“Xiao Fei, do you regret it?”
—Did she regret saving someone who had nothing to do with her?
—Did she regret that her gland was damaged because of this, and that she was now labeled a disabled, defective alpha?
—Did she regret the pain in her gland that tormented her to tears every night after the injury?
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