Marry Me
“Comfort me a little more.”
Cold air spilled from the AC vent, yet the temperature inside the car climbed higher.
When Bai Xin finished speaking, her breathing was already clearly unsteady. She was turned sideways, arm pressed against the leather car seat, brow tightly furrowed, a thin mist clouding her eyes.
Clearly suffering.
Cheng Jiqing looked at her, the earlier anger and irritation slightly subsiding. After a moment’s silence, she took Bai Xin’s hand.
Just like last night.
However, the agitation in Bai Xin’s blood didn’t ease much. Her fingers lightly scratched Cheng Jiqing’s palm.
“Not enough.”
Her voice was low, not as chillingly cold as before.
Cheng Jiqing said, “Just endure it.”
Bai Xin: “…”
Cheng Jiqing couldn’t bear it, but that didn’t mean her anger had completely vanished, nor did it mean she could retreat indefinitely. She said softly, “Shouldn’t you apologize to me first for what you said earlier?”
Bai Xin paused.
Cheng Jiqing’s expression was serious, her voice clean and clear, carrying its unique gentle tone: “First, I wasn’t with Qin Yufu this afternoon. I was alone, I didn’t lie to you; second, I don’t like her, much less would I marry her; third, I will definitely take responsibility for what needs responsibility. Regarding the first two points, you misunderstood and spoke so filthily of me—is asking for an apology too much?”
Her gentleness didn’t make her seem easy to brush off; on the contrary, this Cheng Jiqing made one collect oneself.
When Cheng Jiqing was angry, she wasn’t so easy to fool.
Bai Xin’s heart skipped slightly.
Strangely, her attention was also focused on the first two points. Hearing Cheng Jiqing state them so resolutely1, she actually felt a faint flicker of joy.
Showing weakness wasn’t impossible, she thought.
But she suddenly wanted to see what Cheng Jiqing would look like if she got even angrier.
What if she deliberately didn’t apologize?
Bai Xin knew this thought was already very strange, but in that instant, she just wanted to try it…
So she fell silent.
Thinking it would only be a few seconds, if Cheng Jiqing got really angry, she’d speak then.
But Cheng Jiqing didn’t get upset because she didn’t speak, though naturally, aside from holding hands, there were no further actions.
Cheng Jiqing just averted her gaze and said, “Forget it.”
Then quietly held her hand.
A few minutes later.
Cheng Jiqing sensed the person beside her had eased slightly. She opened the car window and called the driver back in.
She gave Bai Xin’s home address.
The car started. Bai Xin’s gaze rested on their tightly clasped hands. Her heart wasn’t calm; it felt increasingly restless.
The soothed gland agitation, merely with a fleeting thought, revived and returned from the dead.
Cheng Jiqing could soothe it, and she could also bring it back to life.
Just as she was thinking, the hand holding hers suddenly let go…
Bai Xin’s palm felt empty, her heart empty too. She heard Cheng Jiqing say, “You’re feeling a bit better now, right? I sent Tang Jia a message, told her to go straight to your place.”
Meaning, since she wasn’t having an episode right now, just endure it until home, and wait for Dr. Tang to arrive.
Her tone was clearly calm.
Bai Xin glanced at Cheng Jiqing, emotions flickering in her eyes.
Proof of Bai Xin’s currently unfathomable thoughts.
Bai Xin was silent for a few seconds, closing her eyes to calm herself. Cheng Jiqing knew she was uncomfortable, yet refused to give her more just now, not even an embrace. Now she’d even withdrawn her hand.
Looks like she was really angry.
On the way, Cheng Jiqing glanced sideways several times. Bai Xin had her head turned, sleeping.
Aside from slightly heavier breathing, there was no particular movement.
Twenty-something minutes later.
The car slowly stopped downstairs in Nanyang Urban District.
“We’re here.”
Cheng Jiqing didn’t get a response. She patted Bai Xin’s shoulder. “Bai Xin, we’re at your place… Bai Xin?”
Only upon touching that shoulder did she realize it was absurdly hot, much higher temperature than when she held her outside the car earlier.
Cheng Jiqing’s expression darkened slightly. She cupped Bai Xin’s cheek with her hand and turned her face towards her, only then noticing Bai Xin’s flushed face. Pushing aside the hair from her cheek revealed the layer against her skin was damp.
Bai Xin opened her eyes and responded with a sound.
Cheng Jiqing let out a slight sigh of relief; she thought the person had fainted. Getting out of the car, she opened the door and supported Bai Xin towards the building, using her other hand to grab her phone and call Tang Jia.
“Dr. Tang, where are you?”
Bai Xin’s weight was entirely on Cheng Jiqing. Cheng Jiqing couldn’t support her just by gripping her shoulder with one hand, unconsciously clasping Bai Xin’s waist.
The softness made her five fingers reflexively brush against it.
Cheng Jiqing realized this action was somewhat improper. For a brief second, she reined in her thoughts and spoke into the phone, “She has a fever, a very high temperature. Could you come over quickly and take a look?”
Tang Jia said, “First determine if it’s a heat period or marking aftereffects?”
The two conditions were similar, just that the latter wasn’t as severe, and pheromones wouldn’t easily leak out.
The touch beneath her palm, the warmth of Bai Xin leaning against her, inexplicably made her mind race2. She hadn’t even thought to ask Bai Xin, the person involved, but instead lowered her head to sniff.
Just then, Bai Xin lifted her head, and her lips landed on Bai Xin’s forehead…
Both froze.
Her lips were cool, Bai Xin’s skin burning hot. Cold and heat collided like winter and summer; both reacted.
Bai Xin genuinely couldn’t stand steady anymore.
Cheng Jiqing felt a weight sink onto her; Bai Xin seemed to fall entirely into her arms.
She applied a bit more strength, steadied her footing. She hadn’t smelled any pheromones.
“…It should be the aftereffects.”
Tang Jia asked, “What’s her temperature?”
“Don’t know, haven’t measured yet.”
Tang Jia told her to measure the temperature first, then paused. “Miss Cheng, actually, I don’t need to come over. Haven’t you handled both these situations before?”
They had reached the elevator lobby. There weren’t many people around at this time. The voice came clearly from the receiver, and Bai Xin could hear it distinctly.
Cheng Jiqing also realized this loophole; they had just argued about this in the car. She lowered the volume and said, “Just come over, I can’t handle it.”
Besides, what kind of relationship did she and Bai Xin even have?
Weren’t Tang Jia and Bai Xin friends? If it was a heat period, how could she casually hand her friend over to someone with no relationship whatsoever?
This person was too unreliable.
She didn’t notice that as she finished saying the last three words, Bai Xin glanced at her meaningfully.
After hanging up.
Cheng Jiqing held the person close and quickly pressed the elevator button.
“If you don’t want to deal with it, you should let go now.”
Bai Xin suddenly spoke.
The elevator was on the sixth floor, coming down soon.
Cheng Jiqing watched the floor numbers change. “You want me to let go?”
Bai Xin: “Isn’t that what you want?”
If Tang Jia were right in front of them now, Cheng Jiqing definitely would have let go immediately.
Just like earlier in the underground parking lot, Cheng Jiqing seemed somewhat worried about contact with her.
For some reason, the more this was the case, the more resolute Bai Xin’s thoughts became.
It was Cheng Jiqing who came barging into her world first.
Clearly lacking strength, yet her words weren’t necessarily soft.
Fine. Cheng Jiqing nodded. “Yes, I want to. I’ll leave once Tang Jia arrives. If something happens to you here, it’ll still be blamed on me.”
The elevator opened. Cheng Jiqing clasped Bai Xin’s waist and went straight in, without her usual gentleness.
Bai Xin’s waist tightened, but it didn’t hurt at all; it just looked forceful.
Her mind thought—this person is really simple. She wanted an apology, isn’t now the perfect time?
In the car, she knew she was uncomfortable, yet wouldn’t even give a hug. Now she couldn’t even stand steady, why not just leave her here, try scaring her?
Isn’t getting an apology simple?
Due to weakness, Bai Xin spoke extremely slowly: “If you abandon me now, maybe I’ll apologize too.”
Cheng Jiqing: “What use is it if it’s not sincere?”
Everyone likes hearing nice words.
Only sincerity and love cannot be faked—
Whatever kind of person you think I am, that’s the kind of person I am. Your apology can only mean you truly feel you shouldn’t have thought that way.
If you say you love me, then your heart must truly love me.
But if you lie to me, what use is such sincerity and love?
Bai Xin lowered her eyes, saying no more.
She thought, but in this world, sincerity cannot protect me.
The elevator reached the twelfth floor.
Cheng Jiqing helped Bai Xin to the sofa to sit down. “Where’s the thermometer?”
Bai Xin leaned limply against the sofa. “Drawer in the bedroom.”
Hearing Cheng Jiqing enter the room, Bai Xin suddenly remembered something, but it was too late to call out. She forgot there were other things in the drawer, and that box of finger cots3…
When Cheng Jiqing came out, her ears were much redder than when she went in.
Bai Xin saw that unnatural expression and knew Cheng Jiqing had seen the other things in the drawer. The already feverish temperature seemed to rise a little more for no reason.
She wasn’t that easily embarrassed, but seeing Cheng Jiqing’s reaction, she felt an involuntary itch in her heart.
“You saw?”
Cheng Jiqing: “…Mm.”
She placed the electronic thermometer on Bai Xin’s forehead. 38.5 degrees Celsius (101.3°F).
Changing the subject: “It is a bit high. I’ll ask Tang Jia again.”
Bai Xin steadied her breath and asked, “So, you don’t have any thoughts?”
Cheng Jiqing didn’t know why Bai Xin always had to get to the bottom of4 strange questions. “What thoughts? It’s very normal.”
“Do you use these things too?”
Asked so directly by her, Cheng Jiqing cleared her throat, her neck flushing red. “…Miss Bai, is now the time to discuss this?”
She was an adult woman.
She hadn’t had a girlfriend before; using those things was very normal.
It should be said that it’s very normal for any woman to use such things; there’s nothing shameful about the act. But that didn’t mean she could calmly discuss this kind of thing with Bai Xin.
Bai Xin actually stopped talking.
Cheng Jiqing felt a faint restlessness. She urgently sent Tang Jia a message. Perhaps her tone was very insistent, as Tang Jia finally replied: 【I’ll come over and take a look.】
Followed by: 【Wipe her face with warm water, putting ice packs on her forehead and underarms can also lower the temperature. She can take one fever-reducing pill.】
Followed by: 【Of course, you lowering her temperature would be faster.】
Cheng Jiqing: “…”
Cheng Jiqing had seen the gossipy5 light in Tang Jia’s usually calm face. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if this was a joke or serious.
She couldn’t help thinking, these two friends really trust her!
As far as she knew, after an Alpha temporarily marks an Omega multiple times, the Omega becomes extremely dependent in the short term. If it’s a lifetime marking, the impact is even greater; an Omega cannot accept a second Alpha’s marking for a certain period.
Unless the lifetime mark is cleansed, but the process is more painful than shedding a layer of skin.
And both her markings with Bai Xin were temporary.
Weren’t they afraid she’d lose control6 and give Bai Xin a lifetime marking?
“Do you want to go to the bedroom?”
Bai Xin shook her head.
So Cheng Jiqing first went to the fridge to find an ice pack, handed it to Bai Xin, then turned towards the bathroom.
One white, one pink.
Unsure which was the face towel, she asked.
Bai Xin’s voice was a bit low and hoarse from the fever. She sat up from the sofa to look at the figure in the orange light of the bathroom.
She said, “The white one.”
Cheng Jiqing wore a white T-shirt and light blue jeans. When she bent over, the T-shirt clung to her lean, strong back.
She could almost feel the beautiful, well-proportioned muscles.
Cheng Jiqing lowered her head to wring out the towel. Hearing movement behind her, she looked up, her gaze meeting Bai Xin’s in the mirror.
She looked down again, wrung it once more, and said, “Aren’t you uncomfortable? Can you stand steady?”
Compared to before today, Bai Xin could easily hear that Cheng Jiqing’s words still carried a trace of the displeasure from the car. But her voice was still gentle.
“Mm.”
It was unclear which question she was answering.
Cheng Jiqing didn’t ask further.
Turning back with the warm towel, she handed it to Bai Xin. “Tang Jia said wiping with warm water would feel better.”
Bai Xin said, “No strength.”
“…” Cheng Jiqing: “Then why did you get up?”
Bai Xin didn’t speak.
Cheng Jiqing paused silently, then placed the towel in Bai Xin’s hand. “Wipe yourself.”
Bai Xin was thinking, if Cheng Jiqing weren’t angry right now, would she help her wipe her face?
Just as Cheng Jiqing touched Bai Xin’s hand, she heard Bai Xin ask her, “Am I the only one who needs you? Cheng Jiqing.”
Cheng Jiqing’s movement paused; for a moment, she forgot to withdraw her hand.
“When you marked me, wasn’t there a shred of initiative from you?”
Bai Xin leaned against the doorframe, asking again.
Cheng Jiqing realized Bai Xin was very adept at asking questions.
Questions that could pierce right to the heart.
She just hadn’t expected Bai Xin to return to the topic from the car, like a cycle Bai Xin controlled at will, striking fatally whenever she remembered.
Facing her, Cheng Jiqing began to feel a sense of danger…
Soon she knew where this danger came from—the sweet scent of lilies, carrying a unique, captivating aura, bloomed in the confined space.
Cheng Jiqing didn’t know Bai Xin was an SSS-rank Omega, nor did she know that top-tier AO pairs were more sensitive to each other’s pheromones.
Even as Tang Jia said, although Cheng Jiqing was already a top S-rank, top-tier in North City or even the entire ABO system.
She was ultimately two ranks below 3S, even if this 3S was an Omega—
Dodging such pheromones was very difficult.
Cheng Jiqing clearly recognized this familiar feeling.
The dazed infatuation in the villa that day, the agitation in the parking lot barely suppressed only after seeing blood, the marking in the KTV private room that was ‘forced by circumstances’ but actually contained an element of impulse.
None were without the Omega pheromones’ attraction to her.
Cheng Jiqing could now be certain: Bai Xin wasn’t suffering from aftereffects, but was in her heat period.
A throb pulsed in the gland on Cheng Jiqing’s neck. She released her hand. “Go get an Inhibitor.”
But Bai Xin didn’t move, slightly raising her eyes to ask back, “Can’t take it anymore?”
After speaking, she suddenly lowered her head again.
Although Cheng Jiqing had let go, she was still very close to Bai Xin. Her forehead bumped against Cheng Jiqing’s shoulder, and she raised a hand to pinch the T-shirt at Cheng Jiqing’s waist.
“See? It’s not just me who needs you.”
“Bai Xin, stop messing around. Go get the inhibitor.”
The towel in Cheng Jiqing’s hand had already fallen to the floor. She grabbed Bai Xin’s wrist, pulling outwards.
Bai Xin had no strength; her wrist was pulled away, but her weight instead pressed entirely onto Cheng Jiqing.
She repeated, “Cheng Jiqing, then shouldn’t you also admit first, it’s not just me who needs you?”
Persisting unreasonably.
Cheng Jiqing’s gland and heart fluctuated at the same rate.
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.
The Omega’s pheromones continuously assaulted her senses.
She was in the center of lily blossoms… it was an immense challenge.
Cheng Jiqing had just experienced a temporary agitation period; less than 48 hours had passed for recovery. Bai Xin’s pheromones were running wild now, and she was still locked in a standoff with her here.
Was she really not afraid of what she might do?
She gritted her teeth. “Don’t provoke me.”
“So what if I provoke you? Coward7.”
Bai Xin dragged out the last syllable, like a cat’s claw, hooking and hurting.
She was a coward? Or was Bai Xin too bold? Today, this mouth of hers had truly grated on her.
Cheng Jiqing took a deep breath, flipped Bai Xin’s hands upwards, turned her sideways, and then forced her against the sink.
She met Bai Xin’s gaze. Perhaps that gaze was too scorching; Cheng Jiqing turned Bai Xin’s shoulder, flipping her around.
But she forgot there was a mirror in front of the sink.
Although turned around—Bai Xin stood before her, looking up at her slightly through the mirror.
Soft and proud, enchanting yet solitary and cold.
Cheng Jiqing saw those rose-colored lips part slightly: “Little CEO Cheng, isn’t your preference a bit too monotonous?”
Referring to her positioning.
The tips of Cheng Jiqing’s ears turned blood-red. She wasn’t some innocent maiden who understood nothing. Bai Xin’s words—she didn’t know why she felt this way, but she felt—Bai Xin had challenged her ‘dignity’.
She didn’t understand how Bai Xin, clearly trembling so much she needed Cheng Jiqing’s support just to barely stand, still had the energy to provoke her?
“Is it you who can’t take it, or me?” Cheng Jiqing quietly watched Bai Xin.
Her gaze felt tangible.
The bathroom was small, the dim yellow light diffusing, making the space even more scorching.
Then she heard a trembling voice. Bai Xin’s hand grasped the fabric at her waist again.
Cheng Jiqing herself smelled the peach blossom wine scent emanating from her own body…
Time passed, second by second.
Brief yet lengthy.
The high-tier Alpha’s compatible pheromones made Bai Xin’s two glands even more ‘awake’. Her foot shifted slightly, bumping Cheng Jiqing’s knee.
Then the tip of her foot rested against Cheng Jiqing’s.
The silence made all senses extremely sharp. She could hear heartbeats, the rustle of fabric, the cicadas outside, and Cheng Jiqing’s breathing alongside her own.
Bai Xin had to admit, she wasn’t as ruthless as Cheng Jiqing—at least in terms of endurance and stamina, she couldn’t compare.
“Alright, Cheng Jiqing…” Bai Xin lowered her head. Without support, she was uncomfortable. One hand reluctantly pressed against the mirror. Due to the heat, a thin layer of mist instantly bloomed around her fingers on the glass.
And her action of bending over forced Cheng Jiqing behind her to bend her back as well.
Sweat beaded on Cheng Jiqing.
The veins on her arms bulged slightly. Bai Xin leaned against her, slowly saying, “I apologize to you.”
Cheng Jiqing lowered her gaze, only able to see Bai Xin’s soft, dark tea-colored hair.
She was an actress, accustomed to discerning sincerity through people’s eyes. Unable to see her expression, she couldn’t quite decipher the emotions within.
But Bai Xin’s leaning posture, her softened tone, wore away the last bit of anger she had left…
Besides, what mood was she in for anger now?
“Bai Xin, go get the inhibitor,” she sighed.
Even if she were stupid, by now she knew what Bai Xin’s persistent refusal to move meant. But she still wanted to make a final struggle.
“Just endure it a bit, it’ll be better after the inhibitor. Multiple markings… aren’t good for you.”
Her own gland was also violently agitated. She forced herself to speak smoothly, so as not to sound too wretched.
Although the process of marking and ‘having relations’ on another level were different, in this ABO world, it was still behavior only lovers could engage in.
Multiple temporary markings wouldn’t benefit their relationship at all.
It would even become increasingly complicated.
This also completely went against her initial intentions.
She was warning herself.
Bai Xin gave a low, cold laugh. “Mm, a true gentleman. If you don’t dare… then get lost.”
Cheng Jiqing’s eyes darkened. “I told you, don’t provoke me.”
She paused, a hint of warning in her tone. “Are you really not afraid I might give you a lifetime marking?”
Bai Xin looked up from the mirror. “Try it.”
Cheng Jiqing’s breath hitched, her heart sinking heavily. She stared into Bai Xin’s eyes—peach blossom eyes, captivating under the ambiguous orange light.
Neither gaze retreated. Pheromones ran rampant in the small room.
One second.
Two seconds.
…
On the eighth second, Cheng Jiqing suppressed a deep breath, grabbed Bai Xin’s knee, kicked a stool over with her foot, allowing Bai Xin’s bent knee to have support.
Her palm covered the back of Bai Xin’s neck, slender fingers cupping Bai Xin’s chin, tilting it sideways.
Her lips approached from behind the ear.
“Don’t regret this.”
Inside the bathroom.
Came a faint, broken sound.
The doorbell at the entrance rang. Cheng Jiqing didn’t stop.
The phone buzzed on the coffee table, ignored by everyone.
Cheng Jiqing dragged the nearly collapsing Bai Xin up, pressed her onto the stool, then bent down to bite again.
Bai Xin’s and Cheng Jiqing’s hair tangled together, damp.
This time held many emotions. Cheng Jiqing used more force than last time, constricting so one couldn’t breathe. Bai Xin could only yield to her. She also knew what Cheng Jiqing meant—
She asked for this herself, she had to endure it herself.
The light was still on.
With a glance up, Cheng Jiqing could see Bai Xin’s bewitching eyes—direct, soft, yet carrying the thorny energy of claws ready to strike at any moment.
Just like the first night.
But clearer-headed than the first night, thus Cheng Jiqing’s heart beat faster.
Her eyes, her teeth, were trembling.
So at one moment, she lost control of her strength; the bite seemed harsh.
“Cheng Jiqing.”
Bai Xin’s voice sounded like she was about to cry again.
Cheng Jiqing lowered her eyes.
This feeling was torrential, capable of drowning a person to death.
She hadn’t truly been inhuman.
What she gave was still a temporary marking.
The temporary marking didn’t last long, but Cheng Jiqing felt like a lifetime was just that long.
When she lifted Bai Xin from the stool, the crooks of her knees were slick with sweat.
Bai Xin definitely had no strength left. Bathing or anything like that was impossible right now. Cheng Jiqing thought for two seconds, then carried the person into the bedroom.
Just as she carried the person out of the bathroom, she suddenly heard knocking at the door again, along with Tang Jia’s calm voice: “Is anyone going to open the door?”
Cheng Jiqing paused, exchanging a glance with Bai Xin—they had forgotten Tang Jia.
Bai Xin’s temperature was just starting to drop; she didn’t have the strength to respond yet.
Cheng Jiqing called out, “Wait a moment.”
She looked at Bai Xin. Staying like this after sweating, she’d catch a cold once the AC hit.
She carried the person into the room first.
Bai Xin’s forehead rested limply on her shoulder, hair scattered across Cheng Jiqing’s back, collarbone, and chest, somewhat prickly.
As she was being placed on the bed, Cheng Jiqing felt Bai Xin’s fingers lightly grasp the collar of her shirt at the back of her neck.
A very faint tug.
Cheng Jiqing paused her movement, thinking something was wrong.
“Cheng Jiqing, I thought of it…” Bai Xin said in a weak voice.
Knowing Bai Xin was talking about taking responsibility, she listened: “What?”
Cheng Jiqing bent down, lowering the person, not yet touching the bed. Bai Xin stared at her, her voice husky, slowly continuing—
“Marry me.”
“?”
Cheng Jiqing’s legs gave way, and holding Bai Xin, she fell directly downward.
The author has something to say:
Cheng Cheng: Eh? I said I wasn’t selling my, body!!!
Boss Bai: Then what were you selling just now? Your mouth?
(Outside the door, Tang Jia exhales smoke towards the sky: …So should I leave?)
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