After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Alpha, I Marked the Crazy Hotshot – Chapter 5

Feeling

Without saying anything else, Cheng Jiqing became wary — this woman holds grudges.

Back then, mistaking Bai Xin for Qin Yufu wasn’t intentional. Who knew that while everyone else transmigrated into novels with cheat-like advantages, she alone started off with a bug?

As for saying she liked gentle women… well, she really does like gentle women.

The novel’s background city shared the same name as the one Cheng Jiqing lived in real life — Beicheng¹.

But even though they were both called “Beicheng,” the streets, landmarks, hospitals, and people — everything about this place was completely different.

That feeling was truly strange. And with Bai Xin’s resistance and attitude along the way, her mood wasn’t as good as before.

When she called out “Hey” to Bai Xin, she was already at the tail end of her patience.

Besides, when they went to get her blood drawn, Bai Xin hadn’t been like this. She changed faces just like that…

Cheng Jiqing looked at Bai Xin, who had already stepped ahead on her own.

Inhale. Exhale. Adjust.

She could do this.

She was capable.

She wasn’t here to make friends with Bai Xin. She was here to make peace with the woman who threatened her life.

Peace and peace.

Once this matter was over…

Love whoever, whatever.

Cheng Jiqing lifted her smooth jaw slightly. She was tall and slender, dressed casually, and even if her fox-like eyes² showed indifference to everyone around her, they still carried a touch of beauty.

The people around, regardless of who they were, couldn’t help but be drawn to her unconsciously.

Bai Xin stepped out of the building. The few paces she put between herself and Cheng Jiqing relieved her of the oppressive presence of the alpha’s pheromones, allowing her breathing to steady slightly.

Ever since Cheng Jiqing marked her, the urge to get close was harder to control than she’d imagined.

Did Cheng Jiqing’s pheromones smell this distinct to others too?

It was possible. Pheromones usually aligned with their owner’s traits — Cheng Jiqing was like a peach blossom, perfectly matching the trait of being naturally seductive.

Bai Xin had barely walked a few steps before that sweet, intoxicating scent of fruit and alcohol drifted toward her again.

“Where are you headed now?” Cheng Jiqing caught up to Bai Xin and lowered her gaze slightly.

Bai Xin held a sealed paper bag in her hand. She had been carrying it ever since leaving Tang Jia’s place, though its contents were unknown.

Cheng Jiqing, upholding the principle of friendly relations, offered, “I’ll take you.”

Bai Xin glanced at her, as if there was something she wanted to say.

Cheng Jiqing raised an eyebrow. What? Think I look a little cool? Realize your attitude earlier was a bit off?

A thought flashed through her mind — she’d just rhymed.

Bai Xin’s gaze lingered briefly on Cheng Jiqing’s elegant brow but said nothing.

The two of them walked out in sync.

From Cheng Jiqing’s perspective, Bai Xin had silently agreed to let her give a ride.

But Cheng Jiqing quickly realized what Bai Xin had wanted to say earlier.

It was… an awkward situation — she’d told the driver to leave earlier.

And at this moment, she neither had her phone nor a single cent on her.

Cheng Jiqing: “…”

Those three words from before felt like a slap to the face.

— I’ll take you… but I don’t have a car or any money.

“I’ll call someone to pick us up.”

“No need.”

Bai Xin moved faster than she did, already raising her hand to hail a taxi.

Cheng Jiqing planned to drop Bai Xin off at home first, then head back to the Cheng family. Asking someone to cover the fare would be a bit embarrassing, but there wasn’t any other choice.

The taxi pulled up. After Bai Xin got in, Cheng Jiqing stepped forward, ready to follow.

But just as she reached for the door handle — bang — the door slammed shut.

Cheng Jiqing: “?” Huh?

Through the window, Bai Xin said something to the driver. The next second, the taxi sped off, leaving a gust of wind in its wake.

Cheng Jiqing: “…” What?

It was midday, and the area outside the hospital was practically deserted. Cheng Jiqing stood under the scorching sun, the hot wind blowing against her face, feeling a coldness spread through her heart.

She really couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Miss Villain, this is a bit much…

Completely unaffected by common decency, with a heart as hard as stone, and deadly when she gets serious — Cheng Jiqing once again thought of how Bai Xin had tried to smash her with a vase this morning and even considered stabbing her to death with a pen.

What did that dream say? Stop the villain from blackening?

Right now, she really wanted to ask — was it possible the villain had already blackened?

---

Bai Xin hadn’t done this just to spite Cheng Jiqing.

Whether Cheng Jiqing was genuinely willing to help her find evidence wasn’t important for now. When the compatibility test results came out three days later, she might still need to use Cheng Jiqing. Just for that reason alone, she wouldn’t go so far as to burn bridges completely.

If it weren’t for the fact that she’d almost lost control earlier and nearly thrown herself into Cheng Jiqing’s arms, she wouldn’t have left so abruptly.

After being marked, an Omega naturally feels drawn to their Alpha’s pheromones. This closeness also brings comfort during an Omega’s heat.

Her body was different. The pull toward Cheng Jiqing was even stronger.

In fact, her body needed Cheng Jiqing far more than she’d imagined.

But now wasn’t the time to let Cheng Jiqing know that.

If she did, her position would become far too passive…

Bai Xin curled into herself slightly, leaning against the car window. Sweat soaked through the collar of her black dress, spreading into delicate, lace-like patterns.

Her knees were pressed tightly together, as if every ounce of strength she had was being used just to endure.

Clutching the paper bag tightly, she whispered to the driver, “Please, drive faster.”

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Cheng Jiqing had no idea what Bai Xin’s reasons were. She stood alone in the scorching wind, speechless for a moment.

She needed to find a quiet place to calm down.

In the memories left behind by the original owner of this body, there were a few properties… She was just thinking about that when a low, mature woman’s voice suddenly came from behind.

“Miss.”

Cheng Jiqing turned around. The woman had short hair, neat and sharp, wearing a shirt and slacks. In her mind, a few fleeting images of this person surfaced — the original owner’s Alpha bodyguard.

A highly skilled fighter, though she was replaced not long after.

So, Cheng Jiqing couldn’t quite remember her name.

After sizing her up, Cheng Jiqing asked, “When did you get here?”

“I’ve been here the whole time,” the woman replied.

“Stalking me?”

“Protecting you.”

The bodyguard’s expression remained blank, her answer crisp and to the point.

Probably both, Cheng Jiqing thought.

The original owner of this body was a jobless wanderer — weak, loved to fool around, and with a wealthy family that had made plenty of enemies. That’s why Cheng Jing had assigned her a bodyguard.

But whatever. She’d expected someone to keep an eye on her and Bai Xin anyway.

Cheng Jiqing pushed the thought aside and asked, “Where’s the car?”

She’d barely slept last night, and after going through this whole emotional ordeal, her head felt dizzy. Right now, all she wanted was to find a place to catch up on some sleep and recharge before thinking about anything else.

There was one more thing…

After getting into the car, Cheng Jiqing asked, “Did you see my phone?”

She didn’t hold out much hope but asked anyway.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the words left her mouth, the bodyguard handed her a paper bag from the front seat.

“It’s here.”

A flicker of delight crossed Cheng Jiqing’s eyes as she took the bag. Inside were two phones. The moment she pulled them out, she was almost certain one of them belonged to Bai Xin.

The lock screen displayed a fully bloomed, vibrant lily.

The book said that Bai Xin liked lilies — especially on rainy days or when she was feeling down. She’d always buy a bouquet and place it by the window.

Cheng Jiqing stared at the flower. Somehow, she could recall Bai Xin’s scent.

Lilies had a cold, aloof appearance, yet most of them grew in temperate regions, preferring places with ample sunlight.

Maybe it was because of that image that the woman in her mind didn’t seem as cold anymore.

But the feeling only lasted a moment because Cheng Jiqing quickly remembered Bai Xin’s ruthless departure earlier.

As Zhang Wuji’s mother once said — Beautiful women are all poisonous.³

Cheng Jiqing, don’t be fooled by a pretty face.

Nine times out of ten, she was probably right. Cheng Jiqing confirmed, “Whose is the other phone?”

“I checked. It’s Bai Xin’s.”

Cheng Jiqing nodded. There was a password, so she couldn’t open it anyway. She set Bai Xin’s phone aside for now and unlocked the original owner’s phone.

The lock screen and wallpaper on the original owner’s phone were remarkably consistent in style — bold, sensual poses of real people. Just glancing at them made Cheng Jiqing blush.

Face recognition unlocked the phone.

Maybe she could find some clues about the inducer⁴ on the phone.

Ignoring everything else for now, she tapped open WeChat. A few red notifications popped up.

There was also a pinned, “Do Not Disturb” group chat called “A Big Happy Family.”

Her sixth sense told her this group wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

Before she had the chance to check it out, another red dot popped up, drawing her attention to a particular contact.

Zeng Lu: [Xiao Cheng-zong⁵, how was your first time? Feel good?]

Cheng Jiqing didn’t know why, but for a split second, the question actually flashed through her mind. She quickly pushed the thought aside and looked at the phone with a cold expression. She’d been wondering where to start digging.

Well, here it was.

Zeng Lu — a B-class Omega — one of the original owner’s bad-influence friends.

In the book, she was described as extremely unpleasant. All she ever did was egg the original owner and their circle on to stir up trouble. She was also a very cunning woman.

Zeng Lu would often provoke the original owner by making remarks about being a “chick,” “unopened,” and “unable to unlock anyone.”

Cheng Jiqing didn’t remember much, but she knew Zeng Lu had definitely played a part in pushing things along.

Cheng Jiqing: [Wouldn’t you know better if it felt good?]

Zeng Lu replied half a minute later: [Haha, I was asking about the stuff. That wasn’t easy to get, you know. I went through a lot of trouble to get it for you.]

Zeng Lu: [How about it? Aren’t I good to you?]

Cheng Jiqing had survived in the entertainment industry long enough to never leave any evidence in conversations. She avoided asking directly about the drug, hoping Zeng Lu would bring it up herself. But this woman was cautious.

Zeng Lu: [You’re just too stifled from being controlled by your sister. Life’s more fun when you live in the moment. There’s a special play next week — I’ll take you along!]

It seemed the original owner was wild but still “kept herself clean,” probably because of Cheng Jing.

No wonder Cheng Jing’s expression this morning looked like she wanted to strangle the Omega who’d slept with her sister.

Cheng Jiqing narrowed her eyes at the message but kept her tone subtle:

Cheng Jiqing: [If my sister finds out you gave it to me, you’re done for.]

Zeng Lu: [Then before I die, how about doing it with me once?]

Cheng Jiqing: “…”

She really was sick in the head.

Cheng Jiqing thought for a moment:

Cheng Jiqing: [I want some more of that stuff.]

Zeng Lu: [Sleep with me, and I’ll tell you where to get it.]

“…”

Cheng Jiqing: [Why don’t you go sleep with the supplier yourself?]

She didn’t feel like talking anymore. Scrolling up through the chat history, she found that Zeng Lu and the original owner had exchanged quite a lot of messages. Videos, voice notes, pictures — most of which needed heavy censorship.

Every so often, Zeng Lu would bring up the original owner’s “purity.” From her third-person perspective, Cheng Jiqing could easily pick up on the manipulation behind those words.

The original owner’s replies showed her growing more and more uncertain over time.

Cheng Jiqing: [That thing you mentioned — does it really work?]

Zeng Lu: [Of course! You want some, baby?]

Cheng Jiqing: [Yeah.]

Zeng Lu: [Jiali Pavilion, come find me.]

Seeing this, Cheng Jiqing felt a chill run down her spine. She was facing a harsh reality — the drug had appeared because of the original owner’s own desires. In Bai Xin’s eyes, Cheng Jiqing was still the filthy one.

Right now, she was practically playing the game on hard mode.

Even so, Cheng Jiqing was certain the drug used on Bai Xin wasn’t from the original owner.

The original owner had only ever loved Qin Yufu, and she couldn’t possibly be interested in Bai Xin, an Alpha.

When Cheng Jiqing arrived in this body, Bai Xin was already tied up, and she herself had entered the room later. That could only mean there was a third person involved.

Suddenly, a new message from Zeng Lu popped up, pushing the chat upwards:

Zeng Lu: [So, how did it feel last night when you slept with Qin Yufu?]

[I went through so much trouble to get you those two doses — asking for a little feedback isn’t too much, is it?]

These two lines lit a spark in Cheng Jiqing’s mind. Up until now, the only person who knew about the original owner drugging Qin Yufu was Zeng Lu, making her the biggest suspect.

But Zeng Lu wouldn’t have targeted Bai Xin. The most likely scenario was that someone else had gotten the information from Zeng Lu.

It seemed she’d have to meet with Zeng Lu face to face. Cheng Jiqing’s gaze locked onto the location Zeng Lu had mentioned — Jiali Pavilion.

That was Zeng Lu’s turf.

With a direction to solve things, Cheng Jiqing felt a little more at ease.

Outside the window, the sky was a brilliant wash of blue, as if cleansed by water. She hadn’t seen the night sky here yet, but she imagined that when night fell and the stars gathered, it would be just as beautiful.

This place, boxed in by four walls, inexplicably reminded her of 《The Shawshank Redemption》. Any place you don’t like but can’t leave, any kind of life you despise but can’t escape — that’s a prison.

She hoped everything would go smoothly. She hoped this city wouldn’t become her prison.

Cheng Jiqing picked up Bai Xin’s phone and looked up, saying, “Check Bai Xin’s address.”

The bodyguard in front answered, “It’s nearby.”

Cheng Jiqing raised a brow. “You checked already?”

“You sent her something.”

“What thing?”

“A horror doll.”

“…”

This kind of thing… Even the original character model for a derivative work would find it embarrassing.

Bai Xin probably looked at her back then the same way she’d look at an idiot.

Cheng Jiqing yawned. “Then find a nearby delivery station — somewhere that can get things to her the fastest.”

She could’ve just delivered the phone to Bai Xin herself, but after getting the cold shoulder barely ten minutes ago, she wasn’t too keen.

Didn’t she have any pride?

---

Nanyang Urban District.

The taxi stopped beneath an apartment building in the Nanyang urban district. Bai Xin stepped out of the car, her footsteps unsteady, as if she were treading on clouds. The scorching sunlight above made her dizzy and lightheaded.

She had never felt like this before — experiencing suppressant failure less than two hours after taking the injection during her heat.

Tang Jia had said that the inducer might leave some aftereffects on an Omega’s body.

Tang Jia also said that after their first marking, an Omega might develop a dependence on the Alpha, making them restless and anxious.

Sweat trickled down Bai Xin’s forehead. Great. Both possibilities were now being confirmed in her body.

She had barely taken a few steps when she saw a familiar figure heading into the building.

Bai Xingxing⁶.

Yesterday, before leaving the construction site for that villa, she had drunk the bottle of water Bai Xingxing handed her.

Bai Xingxing disdained any interaction with her. For this person to show up here right after everything happened…

In her current state, Bai Xin absolutely could not let Bai Xingxing see her.

Her legs trembled, barely supporting her. All she had on her was the 500 yuan⁷ Tang Jia had given her and the contents of the paper bag. She didn’t have the strength to go any farther.

She watched as the taxi turned around and raised her hand to hail it again.

Bai Xin handed most of her money to the driver, instructing him to drop her off at the parking garage and then leave. After that, she locked the car from the inside…

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Meanwhile.

Cheng Jiqing’s car didn’t head to the delivery station. Instead, it turned into Nanyang Road. Not for any particular reason — she was just really tired, so she asked a simple question:

“Which is closer, the delivery station or Bai Xin’s place?”

The answer: Bai Xin’s place.

“Drive faster. I’m in a hurry to sleep.”

Recalling Bai Xin’s Alpha nature, the bodyguard paused for a moment. “…Understood.”

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