Marking My Arch-Rival [Rebirth] - Chapter 17

Ji Shihuan’s “inspection” was anything but perfunctory.

She leaned close to Jiang Boyan’s sensitive gland, inhaling its scent with deliberate care. From time to time, she gently stroked the back of Jiang Boyan’s neck, coaxing trembling waves of pheromones from her.

The sweet freesia fragrance became so rich it felt like liquid nectar, pure and free of even the slightest impurity.

At first, Ji Shihuan was perfectly satisfied.

But after a while, she decided it was almost too sweet.

It needed something to balance it.

Fortunately, there was no need to look far—her own oceanic pheromones were the perfect complement.

The question was…

How could she convince Jiang Boyan to agree?

Ji Shihuan deliberately lingered, silently searching for the right words.

They had to be reasonable.

Gentle.

Otherwise, the Omega trembling in her arms would probably burst into tears.

But they also had to be firm enough that Jiang Boyan couldn’t refuse.

Otherwise…

She’d probably struggle free and run away.

Before Ji Shihuan could think of the perfect excuse, the woman in her arms spoke first.

“…Ji Shihuan…”

“Hm?”

Ji Shihuan answered absentmindedly.

She had already made up her mind.

No matter what Jiang Boyan said…

She wasn’t letting her escape this easily.

Jiang Boyan grasped her wrist.

Her palm was burning hot.

Then, pressing a hand against her own waist, Jiang Boyan guided her gland toward Ji Shihuan’s hand.

As she moved, a few strands of hair brushed lightly across Ji Shihuan’s cheek.

For a brief instant…

Ji Shihuan lost herself.

She had never seen Jiang Boyan like this.

Gentle.

Obedient.

Nothing like the formidable President Jiang of Hongxin, who built walls around herself to maintain the façade of being an Alpha.

Instead…

She resembled an exquisitely expensive ragdoll cat exposing its belly only to Ji Shihuan.

Ji Shihuan had never kept such a pampered little pet.

Yet in that moment…

She completely understood why so many people willingly became cat servants.

If that cat were Jiang Boyan…

Her nose suddenly felt warm.

Ji Shihuan didn’t dare continue that line of thought.

“You said before…”

Jiang Boyan leaned further into her embrace.

“…that you’d include yourself as part of the deal.”

Ji Shihuan’s throat went dry.

She licked her lips unconsciously.

Still unable to figure out Jiang Boyan’s intentions, she merely answered softly,

“…Mm.”

Jiang Boyan asked,

“…Does that still count?”

If Ji Shihuan had retained even the slightest shred of reason two seconds ago…

Those words snapped it completely.

She leaned back slightly so she could see Jiang Boyan’s eyes.

“…What are you trying to say?”

A crimson blush spread across Jiang Boyan’s cheeks.

She was unbearably hot.

Heat poured continuously from the body pressed against hers.

She suspected she had entered another heat.

But she’d only been temporarily marked by Ji Shihuan not long ago.

Logically…

Her heat couldn’t return this quickly.

She didn’t understand what was happening to her body.

Nor did she understand why she was making such a request.

“…I want you…”

Time seemed to stop.

The only thing Ji Shihuan could perceive was Jiang Boyan, fragrant with sweet freesia, resting in her arms.

To be honest…

Many people had confessed to Ji Shihuan before.

Pure-hearted ones.

Mature ones.

Proud ones.

Gentle ones.

As an artist, Ji Shihuan had always possessed her own aesthetic standards.

She followed her instincts.

As long as she was single…

As long as someone fit her tastes…

She had never refused.

But never—

Not once—

Had three simple words ever sent her blood racing like this.

Never had anyone made her soul feel as though it had momentarily left her body.

When she finally recovered from that breathtaking instant…

She heard her own heartbeat pounding like thunder.

Then—

Jiang Boyan slowly licked her lips.

“…Mark me.”

She repeated it in full.

“…I want you to mark me.”

“…”

Ji Shihuan froze.

Then she let out a quiet laugh.

The arm around Jiang Boyan’s waist tightened in retaliation.

“President Jiang.”

She looked directly into her eyes.

“…Do you know that splitting a sentence in half can easily give someone the wrong idea?”

Jiang Boyan blinked in confusion.

Lowering her gaze, she couldn’t stop tracing Ji Shihuan’s strikingly beautiful features.

“…The wrong idea… about what?”

For the first time, Ji Shihuan found it difficult to view Jiang Boyan through the lens of a calculating businesswoman.

Even though she knew perfectly well why Jiang Boyan was making this request.

Her eyes drifted toward the box of white pills she’d hidden back beneath the blanket.

She reminded herself that, in Jiang Boyan’s mind…

She probably wasn’t much different from that medication.

The heat inside her cooled slightly.

Her actions lost their urgency.

Leaning back against the sofa, she quietly studied Jiang Boyan.

Her messy black hair.

Her slightly open collar.

The impossibly slender waist enclosed within her arms.

And farther down…

The elegant skirt spreading across her knees to the floor.

A woman like this…

Even standing several meters away without doing anything…

Would naturally draw countless admiring gazes.

At the banquet, Ji Shihuan hadn’t intentionally searched for her.

Yet the moment Jiang Boyan appeared…

She had noticed her immediately.

And now…

Jiang Boyan sat astride her lap.

Offering up her most vulnerable gland.

Asking Ji Shihuan to mark her.

Ji Shihuan’s vision blurred.

The arm around Jiang Boyan’s waist slowly slid lower.

Following the slit in her dress, her hand gradually slipped inside.

Jiang Boyan’s body stiffened.

She pressed down over Ji Shihuan’s wandering hand through the fabric, panic appearing on her face for perhaps the first time.

“W-What are you doing?”

Ji Shihuan raised an eyebrow.

“…Didn’t you ask me to mark you?”

“You…”

Her body was burning.

Every sensitive spot seemed completely under Ji Shihuan’s control.

She trembled so violently she had to stop and catch her breath.

Gathering what little composure she could, she glared angrily at Ji Shihuan.

“…Isn’t marking just… biting my gland?”

To her, it was an incredibly simple action.

She genuinely couldn’t understand why Ji Shihuan insisted on making it so complicated.

Hearing that, Ji Shihuan couldn’t help laughing.

Holding Jiang Boyan’s chin gently, she asked,

“…What kind of biology classes did you attend back in school?”

Jiang Boyan bit her lower lip.

“…”

“So you really think marking means simply biting someone’s gland?”

Ji Shihuan continued teasing her.

“…Your biology teacher would probably faint from frustration if they heard that.”

With her weakness exposed, Jiang Boyan’s resistance gradually faded.

Ji Shihuan leaned closer.

Lowering her voice, she teased,

“…Or maybe…”

“…you secretly experienced it once already when I wasn’t around?”

Those words struck like thunder.

Mortified, Jiang Boyan lowered her head, unable to meet Ji Shihuan’s eyes.

Her hands tightened on Ji Shihuan’s shoulders.

Several fingernails dug through the fabric into the skin beneath.

The tiny sting barely registered.

Ji Shihuan had already softened.

She slowed her movements, gently stroking Jiang Boyan’s back.

A faint sob crept into Jiang Boyan’s voice.

“…I changed my mind.”

“…I don’t want it anymore.”

She tried to struggle free once more.

But she had even less strength than before.

Ji Shihuan restrained her effortlessly.

“Don’t be afraid.”

The Second Miss Ji began coaxing her again.

“…It feels good.”

“…Why fight it?”

Jiang Boyan gritted her teeth.

“…I have plans tomorrow.”

Ji Shihuan immediately countered.

“…The first time was an accident.”

“I know better now.”

“I promise I won’t leave you unable to get out of bed this time.”

“…Okay?”

Jiang Boyan shook her head.

Ji Shihuan sweetened the offer.

“…Just once.”

The woman in her arms visibly hesitated.

Her resistance weakened.

Ji Shihuan leaned close to her ear once more.

“…Only my hands.”

“…Would that be alright?”

Warm breath brushed against Jiang Boyan’s ear.

“…You’re already soaked…”

A current shot through Jiang Boyan’s body.

All her remaining strength vanished.

She collapsed limply into Ji Shihuan’s embrace.

Wrapping both arms tightly around Ji Shihuan’s shoulders, she closed her eyes…

…allowing Ji Shihuan to do as she pleased.

---

When everything was over, Ji Shihuan carried her into the bedroom.

Tears still lingered at the corners of Jiang Boyan’s eyes.

She had already fallen deeply asleep.

She was simply too exhausted.

The medication could only help so much.

Ever since the effects of Ji Shihuan’s previous temporary mark had begun fading…

She had rarely managed more than four hours of sleep each night.

Ji Shihuan stood silently beside the bed, watching her sleeping face for a long time.

Her own mind emptied.

It felt as though she, too, had sunk into the beautiful dream Jiang Boyan was having.

Only when her driver—after waiting far too long—called her phone…

The muted vibration finally pulled her back to reality.

As she quietly typed a reply while walking toward the door…

She suddenly stopped in front of an oil painting hanging on the wall.

Ji Shihuan was someone who had been reborn.

To everyone else, she had only recently given up painting.

But to her…

The memories of creating art were those of three or four years ago.

So when she found the painting strangely familiar…

She didn’t immediately dare believe it was her own work.

Fortunately, Ji Shihuan had always had one habit.

She left a hidden signature somewhere unobtrusive in every painting.

Soon enough…

In the lower right corner, she found a tiny winter jasmine blossom that didn’t belong in the composition.

Her suspicion was confirmed.

Bathed in bright moonlight, she looked back toward the peacefully sleeping Jiang Boyan.

Spring had deepened.

---

The consequence of their passionate night together became apparent the very next day.

When Qi Mengying received Jiang Boyan’s latest examination report…

She stood frozen.

For a long time, she couldn’t say a word.

“…Did someone switch the blood samples?”

Looking at Jiang Boyan, she frowned.

“…Something’s wrong.”

“This report is healthier than mine.”

Jiang Boyan took a quiet breath.

“…As long as the report is fine.”

She tried changing the subject.

“…Didn’t you just say the clinic got a new lavender essential oil for sleep?”

“…Should we go try it?”

“Try what?”

Qi Mengying slapped the report onto the desk.

“…Do you honestly think you still need that?”

“…”

“Boyan…”

Qi Mengying stared at her.

“…Who have you been seeing lately?”

Then realization suddenly dawned.

Her eyes widened.

“…Don’t tell me it was Miss Ji from last night?!”

Guiltily, Jiang Boyan looked away.

Before she could think of an answer…

Qi Mengying rejected the correct one herself.

“No, no…”

“It couldn’t have been Miss Ji.”

“Her ex-girlfriend personally confirmed it.”

“…Miss Ji isn’t very capable in that department.”

“So who was it?”

“…The same person as before?”

Jiang Boyan coughed lightly.

After thinking for a moment…

She nodded.

“Excellent!”

Qi Mengying gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

As a doctor, her greatest concern was still her friend’s health.

“Forget everything else.”

“That scumbag’s pheromones are incredible.”

“Your compatibility is ridiculously high.”

“One bite from her is worth an entire course of sleeping pills!”

She patted Jiang Boyan’s shoulder.

“If possible…”

“…keep it up.”

At that very moment, someone knocked on the office door.

The very person they’d been discussing appeared outside, looking radiant.

Her gaze seemed casual as it swept briefly over Jiang Boyan.

“Miss Ji?”

Qi Mengying stood to greet her.

Ji Shihuan smiled elegantly.

“I booked a skincare treatment.”

“…Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all!”

Qi Mengying quickly hid the report inside her desk drawer before warmly ushering her inside.

“Why did reception let you come in by yourself?”

“Come, come—we’ll use the room next door.”

She walked ahead to prepare the equipment.

Ji Shihuan lingered in the hallway.

Waiting until Jiang Boyan drew alongside her, she asked deliberately,

“…Keep what up?”

Jiang Boyan’s body stiffened.

Then she shot Ji Shihuan a glare.

“…Don’t you know that if you’re going to eavesdrop, you should at least hide properly?”

Ji Shihuan shrugged shamelessly.

“…Then shouldn’t people be more careful when talking behind someone else’s back?”

She leaned close to Jiang Boyan’s ear.

“…It’d be rather awkward if the person being discussed overheard everything.”

Jiang Boyan said nothing.

She simply walked past her toward the exit.

Ji Shihuan watched her retreating figure until Qi Mengying called from inside the treatment room.

Only then did she smile and answer,

“…Coming.”