Marking My Arch-Rival [Rebirth] - Chapter 16

Silence filled the car.

Jiang Boyan leaned as close to the door as possible. Outside, the bustling traffic and dazzling lights of A City’s most prosperous district stretched within arm’s reach, yet not a trace of the scenery registered in her eyes.

The scent of alcohol lingering on both of them blended together until it was impossible to tell one from the other. Hidden beneath it, however, the long-dormant oceanic fragrance quietly stirred, brewing a storm powerful enough to overturn heaven and earth.

Jiang Boyan counted her breaths, unable to tell whether she stood outside the storm…

…or directly in its eye.

The car came to a stop in front of the gates of an upscale residential complex.

Ji Shihuan lowered her head, absently fiddling with her phone. The screen wasn’t even lit. Hidden in the darkness, she appeared completely detached, as though her attention wasn’t here at all.

Before opening the door, Jiang Boyan quietly said,

“Thank you.”

Ji Shihuan didn’t move.

“…Mm.”

A cold gust of wind swept in, brushing against Jiang Boyan’s calves. The chill crept upward like leeches clinging to her skin.

Reason told her she should slam the door shut and leave immediately.

No matter what, she shouldn’t provoke the predator that was so obviously angry.

This was her last chance to escape.

But the faint red lipstick mark on Ji Shihuan’s collarbone was like a droplet of blood seeping from Jiang Boyan’s own heart, leaving her too unsettled to walk away.

Leaning against the open door, she asked,

“…Would you like to come upstairs and wipe it off?”

Ji Shihuan acted as though she hadn’t heard.

Just as Jiang Boyan assumed silence was a refusal, the woman finally moved.

She stepped out of the car and slowly walked around the rear until she stopped in front of Jiang Boyan.

The sharp clicks of her high heels echoed against the stone pavement.

Standing face-to-face, the height difference forced Jiang Boyan to tilt her head upward.

Backlit by the streetlights, Ji Shihuan’s silhouette was strikingly sharp.

Her tall frame enveloped Jiang Boyan, blocking both the moonlight overhead and the persistent spring breeze.

“Let’s go.”

Jiang Boyan turned and silently led the way.

---

Walking behind her, Ji Shihuan found it easy to observe her surroundings.

She guessed Jiang Boyan rarely brought anyone home—perhaps this was even the first time.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t seem so utterly inexperienced at hosting a guest.

Even the slippers were a brand-new pair Ji Shihuan found herself after opening the shoe cabinet.

Jiang Boyan visibly paused.

Seeing Ji Shihuan had already settled herself comfortably, she simply gave up trying.

“The living room is here.”

“The kitchen’s inside.”

“There’s water in the refrigerator…”

She hesitated.

“…There should be some fruit too. Help yourself.”

Ji Shihuan didn’t follow.

She remained in the living room, her gaze settling on a blanket bundled on the long sofa.

Without even approaching, she could imagine it was saturated with Jiang Boyan’s signature sweet freesia scent.

One corner concealed something underneath.

Unable to resist, she lifted it.

It was a box of white pills.

The medication’s name was complicated, but because of everything involving her brother recently, Ji Shihuan had become familiar with medications used to treat mental illnesses.

She recognized it immediately.

It was primarily prescribed to regulate the effects of pheromones on the body and was commonly used to treat insomnia.

Jiang Boyan returned carrying a packet of makeup-removing wipes.

After a brief hesitation, she handed them over.

“…Can you remove it yourself?”

Ji Shihuan stood where she was, the elegant curve of her neck resembling that of a graceful swan.

The swan ruffled its feathers.

“I can’t see it.”

That sounded reasonable enough.

Jiang Boyan stepped forward.

Before her hand could reach Ji Shihuan, the latter casually walked two steps away and sat down in a single armchair.

“The alcohol’s catching up with me.”

Closing her eyes, she rubbed her forehead as though exhausted.

“I’m a little dizzy.”

She looked up.

“President Jiang doesn’t mind if I sit for a while, does she?”

Jiang Boyan shook her head.

Only afterward did she realize how awkward the situation had become.

Standing beside Ji Shihuan made her feel like a servant.

Walking behind her seemed equally strange.

But standing in front…

With Ji Shihuan’s impossibly long legs stretched out before her, Jiang Boyan would have to lean forward nearly forty-five degrees just to reach the lipstick stain.

She cautiously stepped closer.

“You…”

Ji Shihuan lifted her eyes lazily, thoroughly enjoying Jiang Boyan’s discomfort.

“What?”

After hesitating for several seconds, Jiang Boyan gave up.

“I’ll go get you a mir—”

Ji Shihuan naturally wasn’t about to let her escape.

The instant Jiang Boyan turned around, Ji Shihuan grabbed her shoulder and pulled.

Caught completely off guard, Jiang Boyan stumbled straight into her embrace.

Ji Shihuan gently parted her knees, wrapped an arm around Jiang Boyan’s slender waist, and with firm yet careful guidance settled her sideways across her lap.

The packet of wipes crumpled in Jiang Boyan’s grasp, moisture dripping onto her pale forearm.

Every attempt to struggle was effortlessly neutralized.

Tilting her head to expose the shoulder Jiang Boyan had rested against earlier, Ji Shihuan seized the initiative.

“Wipe it.”

She looked so perfectly serious that Jiang Boyan almost felt she was the unreasonable one for trying to keep her distance.

Suppressing the awareness of another person’s body heat beneath and against her, Jiang Boyan focused on finishing the task as quickly as possible.

Her left hand braced against the sofa.

Her right hand trembled slightly as she brought the wipe toward Ji Shihuan’s collarbone.

The lipstick stain wasn’t deep.

A couple of gentle wipes removed it completely.

The restored pale skin inevitably retained a faint sheen of moisture.

It wasn’t particularly noticeable…

Yet Jiang Boyan found herself staring several seconds longer than necessary.

She silently blamed Ji Shihuan’s beautifully shaped collarbones.

Little did she realize Ji Shihuan had used the exact same excuse not long ago.

“…Done.”

Ji Shihuan didn’t respond.

Jiang Boyan wasn’t interested in waiting.

Supporting herself carefully, she shifted backward, trying her utmost not to brush against Ji Shihuan.

But just before her left foot touched the floor—

An arm around her waist tightened suddenly.

She was pulled firmly back against Ji Shihuan.

Jiang Boyan gasped.

She had to brace both hands against Ji Shihuan’s shoulders to stop herself from falling completely into her arms.

Even so, their bodies were pressed tightly together.

Lowering her gaze, she caught sight of soft, fair skin visible beneath Ji Shihuan’s slightly open collar.

The view stole her breath.

“What are you rushing for?”

Ji Shihuan finally spoke.

“I haven’t inspected the results yet.”

Jiang Boyan froze.

Then her face flushed crimson.

Ji Shihuan remained perfectly calm.

She leisurely touched the cleaned spot before lifting her fingers to examine them.

“Well?”

Jiang Boyan watched the entire performance before asking coldly,

“…Have you decided how you’re going to make things difficult for me next?”

“Hm?”

Ji Shihuan raised an eyebrow.

“How exactly am I making things difficult?”

Jiang Boyayan tried to stand again, but the arm around her waist refused to loosen.

She glared at Ji Shihuan.

“If you’ve had enough fun, Miss Ji, please let me down.”

“Don’t move.”

Ji Shihuan steadied her.

Between her struggling and her rising emotions, Jiang Boyan’s breathing grew noticeably heavier.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

Ji Shihuan’s eyes darkened.

“There’s something on your neck.”

Jiang Boyan looked at her icily.

“…Is Miss Ji about to confess voluntarily?”

“…Huh?”

“In the car.”

Jiang Boyan stared directly at her.

“What exactly did you do while I was asleep?”

So much had happened tonight.

The only time she’d completely lost consciousness was inside the car.

If there really was something on her neck…

…it could only have happened then.

Ji Shihuan finally understood.

She innocently shook her head.

“Nothing.”

Then she asked,

“Do you really think I’m the type to take advantage of someone while they’re asleep?”

Jiang Boyan let out a cold laugh.

She had just opened her mouth to retort—

When Ji Shihuan suddenly leaned in.

Smack.

She planted a bright red lipstick mark on Jiang Boyan’s neck.

“…”

Jiang Boyan watched the shameless act unfold before her eyes and froze completely.

“Don’t underestimate me.”

Ji Shihuan looked thoroughly pleased with herself, though somewhat dissatisfied the lipstick mark wasn’t darker.

“I don’t need to wait until President Jiang falls asleep.”

Only then did Jiang Boyan react.

She struggled even harder.

Having successfully teased her, Ji Shihuan immediately switched to coaxing.

“Alright, alright. Don’t be angry.”

“I’ll wipe it off.”

“I’ll wipe it off, okay?”

“After that, I’ll let you down.”

Jiang Boyan regarded her warily.

Ji Shihuan took the wipe from her hand.

She deliberately moved painfully slowly, obviously stalling for time.

“Returning the favor.”

She tried defending herself.

“So you can’t get angry.”

“…”

Tilting her head back, Jiang Boyan suddenly sighed.

Her trembling breath echoed through the spacious living room.

“Has Miss Ji always been this childish?”

“I’m childish?”

Ji Shihuan pouted.

Looking up at Jiang Boyan, she asked,

“Then what counts as being mature?”

Jiang Boyan found herself speechless.

Ji Shihuan continued,

“Like you?”

“Sleeping with someone, then pretending not to know them afterward…”

“…and quietly running off for a medical examination?”

The used wipe landed neatly in the nearby trash bin.

At that exact moment, Ji Shihuan felt Jiang Boyan shiver in her arms.

The anger Ji Shihuan had been suppressing finally surfaced.

She lifted Jiang Boyan’s chin.

“One examination wasn’t enough?”

“Did I really have some filthy disease?”

Jiang Boyan immediately realized the misunderstanding and shook her head.

“No…”

Hearing that, Ji Shihuan’s expression only darkened further.

“So it wasn’t because of me?”

“…Mm.”

Ji Shihuan practically forced each word through clenched teeth.

“…Who touched you?”

When emotions fluctuated violently, pheromone production surged.

Even suppressant patches couldn’t completely contain it.

Jiang Boyan felt the oceanic scent explode around her.

Earlier in the car, she’d been unsure whether she stood inside or outside the storm.

Now she knew.

She had been swept directly into the hurricane.

Her sweet freesia fragrance, soft and delicate, was pushed into a corner beneath the overwhelming tide.

“You…”

After tremendous effort, she finally found her voice.

“…Is that really all that’s ever on your mind?”

Ji Shihuan answered without hesitation.

“You could say that.”

Her fingers slid downward until they rested precisely over Jiang Boyan’s gland.

Jiang Boyan’s breathing became increasingly uneven.

“N-no…”

She struggled to keep her voice steady.

“If another… troublesome encounter like you happened…”

“…Mengying wouldn’t merely be urging me to get examined.”

Ji Shihuan laughed softly.

Jiang Boyan had always known her voice was pleasant.

She simply hadn’t realized that the stillness of the night could magnify its beauty to such an extent.

It felt as though all her strength had been stolen away.

Unable to support herself any longer, she finally settled completely onto Ji Shihuan’s lap.

“Don’t mention anyone else.”

Ji Shihuan spoke softly.

Jiang Boyan’s mind had already become hazy.

Leaning close to her ear, Ji Shihuan whispered,

“I said…”

“Don’t mention anyone else.”

“Focus on me.”

Gently, she used the edge of her own clothing to wipe away the artificial Alpha pheromone around Jiang Boyan’s gland.

Then she carefully peeled away the suppressant patch.

With nothing left blocking it, the sweet fragrance of freesia bloomed completely.

Ji Shihuan heard Jiang Boyan let out a long, relieved sigh.

She knew then that Jiang Boyan wasn’t rejecting her.

Fear quietly surfaced in Jiang Boyan’s heart.

Some instinctive premonition plucked at the strings of her soul.

Bracing herself against Ji Shihuan’s shoulders, she tried to sit up.

“…What are you going to do?”

“Good.”

Ji Shihuan stroked her back soothingly.

The words that followed, however, carried considerably less gentleness.

“I’m just going to inspect the results.”