After Becoming a Scumbag Alpha, I Protect the Female Lead’s Love - Chapter 13

However, Xi Zhou’s onboarding the next day did not go as planned.

After Nan Zhiyi dropped Nan Jing off at school, she dropped Xi Zhou off at Guanghua on her way. Xi Zhou arrived early and happened to bump into Xi Jiahua. They entered the same elevator along with Jiahua’s secretary, Secretary Lin. Jiahua gave her a gratified look and instructed Secretary Lin to take her to human resources to complete the onboarding paperwork.

Secretary Lin was an Omega whose heat was approaching. A faint scent of pheromones wafted from her—the concentration was very low, smelling no different from ordinary perfume, and nowhere near enough to make an Alpha lose control. But the moment Xi Zhou smelled that extremely light citrus scent, the gland at the back of her neck began to burn inexplicably.

“Third Miss, this way.”

The elevator doors opened. As Secretary Lin led Xi Zhou toward the HR department, she was suddenly pinned down by a powerful surge of Alpha pheromones.

“Xiao Zhou?”

Xi Jiahua, also an Alpha, immediately recognized the domineering scent of whiskey as Xi Zhou’s pheromones. After Secretary Lin stepped out, Jiahua lunged forward, grabbed Xi Zhou, pulled her back into the elevator, and slammed the “close” button.

If Secretary Lin continued to be exposed to such an Alpha, it would force her straight into a premature heat.

“What’s going on? Why did you release your pheromones so suddenly?” Jiahua frowned, forcing her own instincts down to keep from releasing her own pheromones in response. Her face paled under the pressure of Xi Zhou’s scent.

“I… I don’t know.” Xi Zhou felt miserable. Her head was spinning, and the scorching temperature at the back of her neck seemed to be melting her sanity.

Strangely, she found herself desperately craving the scent of Baileys.

The elevator moved slowly to the floor where Jiahua’s office was located. Jiahua dragged her into the office, shoved her onto the sofa, and turned the air circulation system to maximum before immediately plunging a needle of suppressant into Xi Zhou’s gland.

“Better?”

Jiahua tossed the syringe aside and retreated to her desk; she needed to keep her distance. An Alpha’s nature is combative, and the release of pheromones is taken as a signal of provocation by other Alphas.

Xi Zhou reached back to touch her neck. The temperature had dropped, but it was still hot to the touch. “I think… I’m a bit better.”

Jiahua was dissatisfied with the vague answer. “What do you mean ‘think’? How do you actually feel?” She looked at Xi Zhou slumped limply on the sofa and realized she wouldn’t get a clear answer. She messaged Secretary Lin telling her not to come up yet and grabbed her car keys. “Forget it. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“Okay.” Xi Zhou didn’t try to be brave. She hadn’t slept well, and her head was throbbing too much to work anyway.

Jiahua brought her to Lancheng Second Hospital. After a check-up, it turned out Xi Zhou had developed another fever.

This time, Jiahua arranged a private ward. Between blood tests, expert consultations, and various exams, it was nearly noon by the time things settled. Fortunately, the diagnosis for her gland was optimistic.

“Sister.”

Around noon, Nan Zhiyi received a call from Xi Jiahua. After being told about the fever and the state of Xi Zhou’s glands, Nan Zhiyi dropped her work and rushed to the hospital.

When she pushed the door open, a doctor was explaining the condition to Xi Zhou. Nan Zhiyi greeted Jiahua, who beckoned her over to listen.

“Fortunately, Miss Xi’s pheromones have a very high compatibility with her partner’s. The rejection reaction isn’t severe. With proper treatment, she can recover her marking ability in the future,” the doctor explained.

“However, currently, Miss Xi’s state is somewhat similar to being ‘marked’ by her partner. She cannot come into contact with other Omega pheromones. If she does, the gland may react with rejection, like it did today. You must be careful to keep her away from other Omegas.”

In this world, marking is typically one-way: an Alpha marks an Omega, making the Omega the Alpha’s “property.” Currently, Xi Zhou’s gland was behaving like a marked Omega—rejecting any external Omega scents.

Xi Zhou listened to the doctor with boredom, letting out a yawn. She didn’t care about “marking” and was indifferent to whether she recovered the ability or not. Seeing Nan Zhiyi walk to the bedside, she flashed her a smile.

Nan Zhiyi nodded along with the doctor’s words. Turning to the bed, she saw Xi Zhou’s faint smile and the flickering dimple at the corner of her mouth. Her sharp features seemed to soften significantly with that trace of mirth. Nan Zhiyi found herself smiling back.

The doctor instructed Xi Zhou to undergo physical therapy in the afternoon, gave a few more warnings, and left.

As Xi Jiahua watched their intimate interaction, a wave of loneliness surfaced in her heart. She looked down at her phone—the wallpaper was a photo of a woman working at a desk. Her sent messages remained unread.

Extinguishing her screen, Jiahua spoke up. “Since you’re here, I’ll head back. I still have work.”

Nan Zhiyi hadn’t expected Jiahua to drop an entire morning’s worth of work for Xi Zhou. It was no wonder the original Xi Zhou had turned out so spoiled; the family’s doting was plain to see. Knowing Jiahua managed half of Guanghua’s assets, the morning’s workload must have been massive. “Alright. Thank you, Sister.”

After Jiahua left, Xi Zhou patted the chair by the bed. “Sit. Have you eaten yet?”

Nan Zhiyi had just finished a meeting when she got the call. “Not yet.”

“Then go grab some food,” Xi Zhou urged, worried Nan Zhiyi was uncomfortable in the hospital. “You still have to work this afternoon, and you only have this short lunch break.”

Nan Zhiyi was speechless. “I’ve been here less than five minutes.”

“But don’t you get restless in hospitals?”

“It’s fine, within a controllable range. I can stay and have lunch with you.”

Xi Zhou caught the subtext. “What do you want to eat? I’ll order.”

Having spent the last few days together, Nan Zhiyi knew their tastes were similar—both liked rich, spicy food. “Order whatever you want, I’m okay with anything. Just make it fast, I’m starving.”

While they waited for the food, Nan Zhiyi was glued to her tablet reviewing contracts. “How is the lawsuit with Zhaoxiang coming along?” Xi Zhou asked.

“Almost ready. I’ve handed it over to the lawyer.”

“You seem very busy.”

“Hmm?” Nan Zhiyi finally looked up, confused by her tone.

“It’s lunch time. Take a break,” Xi Zhou said, glancing at the tablet.

“Oh.” Nan Zhiyi chuckled inwardly. Xi Zhou’s personality is so awkward. Who expresses concern so bashfully? She set the tablet down regardless.

The medicine prescribed to Xi Zhou contained sedative components. Between that and her lack of sleep, she began yawning incessantly. Nan Zhiyi looked at the dark circles under her eyes. “Did you not sleep well last night?”

“Mhm. Isn’t it obvious?”

“Do you always have insomnia?” Nan Zhiyi’s study was right next to Xi Zhou’s room; she had worked until 1:00 AM and worried she had disturbed her.

“Occasionally.”

The food arrived, and they ate in a harmonious, if quiet, atmosphere. After finishing, Nan Zhiyi tidied up the trash, and Xi Zhou waved her away.

“Go on. I’m going to nap.” Xi Zhou stretched and curled up on the bed.

Nan Zhiyi smiled at the sleepy Alpha and prepared to leave.

“I’ll pick up An-an this afternoon,” Xi Zhou added. She would be discharged after therapy.

“Alright. Call me if anything happens.”

Xi Zhou slept for a while. During her afternoon therapy session, she ran into Meng Wenxin.

“Sister Wenxin.”

Meng Wenxin remembered her. Although she had broken up with Jiahua, her impression of Xi Zhou was good. She returned the smile. “Why are you here?”

“Gland issues. Just doing some physical therapy. How about you? How are you feeling?”

“Much better. I’m being discharged tomorrow.”

As they walked toward Meng Wenxin’s ward, the professor suddenly stopped. “Don’t tell Xi Jiahua.”

“I’m not her spy,” Xi Zhou said, amused. “Don’t worry, that’s between you two. I won’t meddle.”

“Good.”

Xi Zhou followed her into the ward to chat. “Sister Wenxin, I’m curious… about you and my sister.” She remembered Jiahua’s request.

Meng Wenxin didn’t hide anything. They had met while studying abroad. Jiahua had returned to China a year earlier than Meng, and when Meng finally arrived, Jiahua met her at the airport with a plum blossom branch. They had been together for three years. However, Jiahua had grown resentful of how busy Meng’s work was and demanded she quit her job to marry her. When Meng refused, Jiahua impulsively suggested a breakup in the heat of the moment.

Xi Zhou was flabbergasted. She felt Jiahua deserved the outcome. “Good for you,” Xi Zhou said, giving her a thumbs up. She had intended to play the mediator, but hearing the facts, she was too embarrassed to even try.

Meng Wenxin laughed. “Are you really her sister? Shouldn’t you be convincing me to make up with her?”

“I am her sister, but I have no standing to convince you. Relationships are like drinking water—only you know the temperature. If you still wanted to be with her, you wouldn’t need me to persuade you,” Xi Zhou said seriously. “Besides, my sister was in the wrong. Everyone is an independent individual. She had no right to ask you to give up your career, especially based on something as fleeting as ‘love’.”

“Well said,” Meng Wenxin agreed. “If only your sister were half as clear-headed as you.”

“She does have some good points…”

“I know.” Having been together for three years, Meng Wenxin knew Jiahua’s heart.

Xi Zhou noted the time; she had to get An-an. “I have to go. Let’s grab dinner in a few days when you’re free.”

Xi Zhou handled her discharge and took a taxi to the kindergarten. Nan Jing came running out and dove into her arms. Xi Zhou scooped her up with ease.

“Auntie Xi!” Nan Jing hugged her neck happily. Nan Zhiyi was starting to struggle with the child’s weight, but since manifesting as an Alpha, Xi Zhou’s strength had increased significantly.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Ice cream?” Nan Jing’s eyes sparkled.

Since it wasn’t summer yet and the temperature was barely 20°C, Xi Zhou refused. “No. You’ll get sick.”

“Oh.” Nan Jing pouted.

Xi Zhou’s phone rang. It was Jiahua, telling her to come home for dinner. Xi Zhou looked at the little one and prepared to decline, but Jiahua added, “I already asked Zhiyi. She’s working late tonight and said you should take An-an with you.”

Xi Zhou called Nan Zhiyi to confirm. “Yeah, Sis called me. It’s fine, take An-an with you. Your parents need to accept her presence eventually.”

Xi Zhou understood. She hung up and took Nan Jing to the Xi family home.

The charm of a “human cub” was about to be put to the test.