After Differentiation, I Marked My Arch-nemesis - Chapter 20

Time flew by, and a new week began.

Monday

Jiang Youli spent a whole class thinking.

She had planned to go to Grade 12 to find Qiao Yixun after the first class. She had promised Lu Yaoyi that she would tell Qiao Yixun to stop pursuing her, and she had to keep her promise. So she decided to go talk to Qiao Yixun about it alone.

However, after thinking for a whole class, she gave up on the idea.

She sat at her desk, looking at Lu Yaoyi’s back.

She decided to tell Lu Yaoyi. She took out her phone from her drawer and prepared to message her. The moment she opened their chat, she saw Lu Yaoyi’s last cold and polite “thank you” from the birthday party.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitant to move.

After a moment of silence, she swore she would only be proactive with Lu Yaoyi this one time. Otherwise, that narcissistic maniac would get a big head. So she typed and sent a few messages to her.

—Lu Yaoyi, I have something to tell you.

—You asked me to tell Sister Xun to stop pursuing you.

—I’ve decided not to tell her.

She sent the messages and looked up at Lu Yaoyi, who had her head down.

Soon, Lu Yaoyi replied.

—Why?

Jiang Youli had no choice but to be honest.

—Because I was the one who agreed to let Sister Xun pursue you.

She thought for a moment and sent another message.

—Since I already agreed to let Sister Xun pursue you, it would look strange if I suddenly went to her now and told her to stop.

—So…

Lu Yaoyi was stunned when she saw Jiang Youli’s messages. Why would Jiang Youli agree to let Qiao Yixun pursue her? She typed and asked, “What is going on?”

Jiang Youli didn’t know how to explain it to her. So she replied:

—Sister Xun asked me if I minded if she pursued you.

—I said I didn’t mind.

Lu Yaoyi was a little angry when she saw Jiang Youli’s messages.

How could that terrible Jiang Youli agree to let someone else pursue her? Isn’t she afraid I’ll actually get taken away? And she knew Qiao Yixun was a player Alpha. If Jiang Youli really cared about her, why would she agree to let someone else pursue her?

She unhappily typed:

—Jiang Youli.

—You’re too much.

Jiang Youli was speechless.

Lu Yaoyi sent a few more messages.

—You knew Qiao Yixun was a player, and you still let her pursue me.

—Jiang Youli, you’re really too much.

Jiang Youli was speechless.

It’s Qiao Yixun’s freedom to pursue whoever she wants.

She felt that she shouldn’t deprive Qiao Yixun of her freedom to pursue whoever she wanted just because she hated Lu Yaoyi. And at that time, she was too busy distancing herself from Lu Yaoyi and didn’t think too much about it when Qiao Yixun asked.

But now she regretted it.

She didn’t want Lu Yaoyi to get played by an Alpha like Qiao Yixun.

And…

She had been keeping what Chen Huaian said in mind. The thought of Lu Yaoyi getting played emotionally and physically by Qiao Yixun made her angry. She would never allow that to happen, so she had to side with Lu Yaoyi.

She typed and replied:

—I’ve already promised to protect you. I’ll keep my promise and protect you until Sister Xun gives up.

Lu Yaoyi was suddenly no longer angry.

Jiang Youli agreed, but in the end, didn’t she still tell me the truth?

She had always been confident that Jiang Youli cared about and was worried about her. That prideful and awkward girl just didn’t want to admit it. Otherwise, Jiang Youli would never have told her these things, let alone proactively warned her to be careful of Qiao Yixun.

Thinking this, she felt much better.

She smiled and replied to Jiang Youli.

—Jiang Youli.

—I forgive you.

I forgive you for letting someone else pursue me, she said to herself.

Jiang Youli was speechless.

Why did she feel like Lu Yaoyi was being so pushy now? She told her all of this. Shouldn’t that annoying girl be grateful? What was there to forgive? She had betrayed her…

Wait, she suddenly realized something.

She had betrayed her good friend, Qiao Yixun, for Lu Yaoyi?

And she had even reached an agreement with Lu Yaoyi to form a united front?

She was completely dumbfounded.

How would she ever be able to face anyone again?

So she comforted herself.

Whatever, whatever. I’m doing this for Lu Meishan and Guan Luyu. No one else knows that I told Lu Yaoyi these things. Thinking this, she guiltily accepted the fact that she had betrayed Qiao Yixun and sent another message to Lu Yaoyi.

—From now on, I’ll walk home with Sister Xun.

Lu Yaoyi didn’t quite understand.

—Why are you walking with her and not me?

Jiang Youli replied:

—It would be so strange for us to walk together, wouldn’t it?

After all, she was now on Lu Yaoyi’s side, betraying her good friend, Qiao Yixun. And she and Lu Yaoyi were publicly known as arch-rivals. If people found out that they were suddenly on the same team…

It wouldn’t make sense.

She wouldn’t even be able to explain it to herself.

Lu Yaoyi knew what Jiang Youli meant. So she replied:

—Okay.

Just then, the class bell rang. Jiang Youli looked at the English teacher walking in through the front door and sent one last message to Lu Yaoyi:

—Let’s leave it at that for now. Let’s pretend none of this happened and just keep in touch privately.

Lu Yaoyi:

—Okay.

After school, Jiang Youli made a point to wait for Qiao Yixun at the bike shed.

Chen Huaian had something to do and went home early.

Jiang Youli sat alone on her bike, looking at the sycamore tree-lined road leading to the academic building. Many people who passed by the bike shed greeted her, including Cen Ziqin and Shen Yichuan. They asked her if she wanted to hang out.

She declined.

This was the umpteenth time she had declined their invitation to hang out in the past few days.

After Cen Ziqin and Shen Yichuan left, Jiang Youli watched the sycamore tree-lined road without blinking.

A moment later, Qiao Yixun appeared in her sight, following behind Lu Yaoyi. Jiang Youli got off her bike and walked toward Qiao Yixun.

Lu Yaoyi walked toward her.

They exchanged a quick, knowing glance.

They understood each other without a single word.

Jiang Youli walked past Lu Yaoyi and went up to Qiao Yixun.

“Sister Xun.”

Qiao Yixun was a little surprised to see her. Usually, Jiang Youli would have already left by this time. “A-You, why are you still here?”

“Sister Xun,” Jiang Youli said, her lips curving slightly. “I’m waiting for you so we can go home together.”

“You’re waiting for me?” Qiao Yixun asked, a little confused.

“You said last time that you’d have a more legitimate excuse to openly walk Lu Yaoyi home if I was with you, didn’t you?” Jiang Youli said. “So let’s walk together.”

Last time, she had used that same excuse not to walk with Qiao Yixun.

This time, she would use it as a reason to openly escort Lu Yaoyi.

Qiao Yixun smiled. “Okay, A-You. You finally have time for me.”

“Let’s go, Sister Xun,” Jiang Youli said.

“Okay,” Qiao Yixun said.

The setting sun covered the ground, lighting up the way home. Jiang Youli and Qiao Yixun rode their bikes together, laughing and chatting. They were a stark contrast to Lu Yaoyi, who was riding her bike alone not far ahead.

Jiang Youli looked at Lu Yaoyi’s back.

She was in a great mood.

She no longer had to sneakily follow Lu Yaoyi and Qiao Yixun like a spy.

This is so nice.

Time flew by, and soon it was the end of September. The past two days, Jiang Youli had been feeling sleepy and weak. Since she had nothing to do, she skipped class and went to the school infirmary.

After an examination, the school doctor said, “It’s nothing serious. You’re just about to differentiate.”

“What?” Jiang Youli asked, looking at the school doctor in disbelief. “I’m about to differentiate?”

Her previous physical examination report showed that she wouldn’t differentiate until mid-next month, which was around her birthday on the 15th. Why was she differentiating now?

The school doctor nodded seriously. “That’s right.”

“I’m differentiating?” Jiang Youli said. “Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“Sleepiness and weakness are common symptoms before differentiation, and they’re all normal reactions, so don’t worry. Differentiating early is also a normal physiological phenomenon, so there’s no need to be too concerned,” the school doctor said unhurriedly. “Just remember to carry an inhibitor and an Omega-specific scent blocker with you.”

She paused, looking at Jiang Youli’s physical examination report. “You should also carry an Alpha-specific pheromone blocker, just in case you’re that one percent exception.”

Jiang Youli was speechless.

She sighed helplessly. “Okay, I got it.”

She agreed.

However, the next day, she only brought an inhibitor and an Omega-specific scent blocker to school. She didn’t believe she would be that one percent exception.

She wanted to differentiate into a higher-level Omega to overpower Lu Yaoyi anyway.

She didn’t want to differentiate into an Alpha.

Wednesday

Jiang Youli’s symptoms of sleepiness and weakness became more and more severe as she got closer to differentiating. She felt so uncomfortable that she asked for leave and went home to rest.

Li Henian also happened to be home, feeling a bit unwell from a dog hair allergy.

Jiang Xiyuan was away on a business trip.

Jiang Youli and Li Henian had to take care of each other.

However, Jiang Xiyuan had already gotten on a plane to return to Jiangcheng.

At around 3 p.m., Jiang Youli woke up from her nap and sent a message to Lu Yaoyi.

—I’ll wait for you at the entrance to the alley after school.

Lu Yaoyi replied quickly.

—Don’t wait for me if you’re not feeling well.

Jiang Youli rolled over and typed a reply to Lu Yaoyi.

—It’s fine. I’ll keep my promise. Besides, I’m just weak because I’m about to differentiate. I’ll make up an excuse for Sister Xun later.

Lu Yaoyi felt both warm and touched by Jiang Youli’s message. These past few days, she could always see Jiang Youli as soon as she turned around after school. Jiang Youli had been working hard to keep her promise to protect her. She hadn’t gone back on her word or lied to her.

She truly loved that little rascal, Jiang Youli.

She had loved her since they were children.

So she didn’t refuse her.

—Okay.

Jiangcheng No. 1 High School ended at 5:30 p.m. sharp. Jiang Youli left her house at the same time. By the time she got to the alley, she wouldn’t have to wait long for Lu Yaoyi to show up. Then she could just find an excuse to walk with Qiao Yixun.

Jiang Youli rode her bike through the alley, facing the sunset.

As she got closer to the entrance of the alley, her head suddenly felt dizzy. She immediately hit the brakes and stopped.

Luckily, it was only for a moment.

Just as her mind cleared up and she was about to continue riding, her body suddenly felt like it had fallen into a fire pit. It began to burn and grow hot, and her limbs became weak and sore.

Her heart sank.

This is it…

I think I’m… differentiating…

She panicked and got off her bike, feeling so weak that she thought she would collapse at any moment.

She had thought that it would only take half an hour to pick up Lu Yaoyi and that nothing would happen, so she hadn’t brought her inhibitor or scent blocker. She never expected to suddenly start differentiating at the very spot she was supposed to meet Lu Yaoyi.

What should she do now?

What should she do…

She held onto a wall, supporting her hot and weak body as she tried to walk forward. Her entire face was flushed red.

After only a few steps, she suddenly felt a tearing pain in her lower body, as if something was growing violently and tearing her body apart. She instinctively hunched over, holding her body in agonizing pain. Her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees.

Her whole body trembled in pain.

It hurts…

It hurts so much…

Her entire body was hot and in pain.

At that moment, she suddenly remembered Lu Yaoyi’s hot body on the day she went into heat.

So this is what it feels like to have a hot body.

It feels like she’s going to die.

She suddenly felt something erupt from the gland on the back of her neck, spreading throughout her body and into the air. She then smelled a fresh, cool scent.

This scent… is this my pheromone?

She didn’t know what it was.

She just felt that it smelled so good.

Her body was so hot that her consciousness began to blur.

She could only weakly hunch over, holding her severely painful lower body, unable to move at all.

An Omega…

Did she finally differentiate into an Omega?

But…

Why did her lower body hurt so much when she differentiated into an Omega?

She didn’t learn about this in her physiology class…

Lu Yaoyi was going home faster than she ever had before. It was because Jiang Youli was waiting for her. Jiang Youli was feeling unwell because she was about to differentiate, and she didn’t want her to wait for too long. So she was pedaling her bike with all her might.

Qiao Yixun was still following behind her, walking her home.

Just before they were about to leave the main street and enter the alley to their homes, Lu Yaoyi suddenly smelled a very strong and powerful Alpha pheromone.

It was the scent of fir.

Her body was instantly affected by the Alpha pheromone.

Someone is differentiating not far ahead!

Someone is differentiating…

Jiang…

Jiang Youli? Is the person differentiating into an Alpha Jiang Youli?

A wave of coldness instantly shot up from the soles of Lu Yaoyi’s feet.

The Alpha’s pheromone was too strong. She knew she would be affected soon, so she desperately pedaled her bike, rushing forward.

Qiao Yixun also sensed the powerful Alpha pheromone.

This Alpha’s pheromones weren’t aggressive, yet they could still stop her in her tracks.

She looked at Lu Yaoyi’s retreating figure and could only grit her teeth and follow.

After turning the corner, the sight in front of Lu Yaoyi made her stop dead in her tracks.

She saw Jiang Youli on her knees, with her head down.

The powerful Alpha pheromone was coming from Jiang Youli’s body.

Lu Yaoyi stared at Jiang Youli on her knees.

An Alpha…

Jiang Youli is an Alpha…

Lu Yaoyi didn’t have time to think. She rushed toward Jiang Youli on her bike. When she got to her, she quickly threw her bike to the side and knelt in front of her. The overwhelming scent of fir made her legs weak. Realizing that she couldn’t handle it much longer, she shook Jiang Youli. “Jiang Youli? Are you okay, Jiang Youli?”

Jiang Youli groggily looked up at the person in front of her.

The beautiful girl looked so familiar.

Slowly, she finally saw the beautiful girl kneeling in front of her.

The girl looks like Lu Yaoyi…

For some reason, the sweet Omega scent on Lu Yaoyi had a fatal and captivating power, attracting all her senses. It gave her a very strong and unfamiliar urge. Her pheromones were constantly surging and roaring.

She longed for Lu Yaoyi.

She longed to get something from Lu Yaoyi.

Lu Yaoyi endured the discomfort in her body and tried to take off her backpack. It had everything she needed, including an Alpha-specific pheromone blocker.

Even if there was only a one percent chance that Jiang Youli would differentiate into an Alpha, she had prepared an Alpha-specific pheromone blocker.

She carried it in her backpack every day.

She never thought there would be a day when it would actually come in handy.

Just then, Jiang Youli suddenly hugged Lu Yaoyi tightly.

Qiao Yixun’s voice came from behind.

“A-You? How are you, A-You?”

Lu Yaoyi smelled the powerful Alpha pheromone and quickly threw her backpack to Qiao Yixun. Then, enduring the discomfort in her body, she said with difficulty, “Everything is in my backpack… Take it out quickly… or something bad will happen…”

“Okay,” Qiao Yixun said, quickly picking up the backpack.

Jiang Youli’s entire upper body was on top of Lu Yaoyi. She buried her head in Lu Yaoyi’s neck, desperately taking in her sweet scent.

“Lu Yaoyi… you smell so good…”

Lu Yaoyi held Jiang Youli’s slender waist, and her body started to feel hot and weak.

She bit her lip and took a breath. “Jiang Dingding…”

Jiang Youli felt that just holding Lu Yaoyi wasn’t enough to fill the desire and emptiness in her heart. Her face continued to rub against Lu Yaoyi’s neck. She suddenly saw the scent blocker on the back of Lu Yaoyi’s neck and unknowingly reached out her hand.

Her lips were close to Lu Yaoyi’s ear, and she whispered.

“Lu Yaoyi… can I… smell your pheromones?”

Lu Yaoyi’s face instantly turned a lovely shade of red.

Does this idiot, Jiang Youli, know that when an Alpha says something like that to an Omega, it’s an invitation? This idiot, Jiang Youli… She held the hot Jiang Youli, and she suddenly felt the scent blocker on the back of her neck get torn off.

A hyacinth scent spread from her gland.

When Jiang Youli smelled the Omega pheromone, the strong and unfamiliar urge in her body instantly intensified a hundredfold. She stared at the delicate gland on the back of Lu Yaoyi’s neck.

Then she opened her mouth and bit down.