The previous rejection reaction, combined with the symptoms of her heat period, had finally eased. Li Jia’s fever began to subside at last.
Though the temporary mark was complete, Ye Chengxing didn’t release her hold on Li Jia. Instead, she continued to soothe the omega’s emotions with a gentle tone, her embrace warm and tender.
Oftentimes, after a temporary mark ended, an omega’s emotions could become unsettled. In moments like these, it was crucial to provide even more reassurance and a sense of security.
Under her soothing, Li Jia closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. Just before slipping away, her fingertips still clutched at the corner of Ye Chengxing’s clothing, her long, raven-like lashes damp and fluttering, stirring deep pity in anyone who saw her.
Once she was certain Li Jia was asleep, Ye Chengxing carefully laid her back on the bed. She then used a warm cloth to gently wipe the omega’s cheeks.
The room still lingered with the scent of their pheromones.
The alpha’s pheromones had mingled with the omega’s, creating a new, softer fragrance.
Ye Chengxing paused for a moment before purifying the air in the room once more.
With everything tidied up, she sat down at the edge of Li Jia’s sickbed.
At the location of the omega’s nape gland, a clear bite mark stood out—an ambiguous red against her snowy white skin.
Ye Chengxing gazed at the temporary mark, tucked the blanket around Li Jia, and then gently, lovingly brushed her fingertip against the omega’s hair ends.
Before this, even though she had been in this world for quite some time, Ye Chengxing had always felt a sense of detachment from her identity as an alpha.
But at this moment, that detachment had vanished without a trace. In its place bloomed a profound sense of responsibility as an alpha.
Li Jia woke again near noon the next day.
Although her heat symptoms had eased and the rejection reaction had faded, Ye Chengxing still hadn’t slept. She had stayed by her side all night, anxious about any potential complications and ready to care for the omega.
Seeing Li Jia awake, Ye Chengxing’s eyes curved into a smile without her realizing it.
Deep down, she knew there wouldn’t be any sudden emergencies, but she had still worried throughout the night.
Now that Li Jia was finally awake, she could truly breathe a sigh of relief.
Despite going without sleep, Ye Chengxing showed no signs of fatigue on her face. She was filled with joy but didn’t bombard Li Jia with rapid-fire questions about how she felt. Instead, she handed her a cup of warm water she had prepared and kept at the perfect temperature. Seeing that Li Jia still lacked strength, Ye Chengxing gently brought the cup to her lips and fed her little by little.
The water was just the right warmth. After drinking a full cup, Li Jia looked much more spirited.
Ye Chengxing reached out to touch Li Jia’s forehead before finally speaking. “Feeling better?”
Li Jia nodded at her words. The omega’s face was still pale and weak-looking, which only made her seem more delicate and pitiable. Her pupils shimmered with moisture. “Much better.”
At that, she bit her lip, as if guilty or self-reproachful. “I’m sorry, Sister. It seems like I caused you trouble again…”
“How could you be trouble? As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. You’ll never be a burden to me.” Hearing this, Ye Chengxing ruffled Li Jia’s hair. “I’ll call the doctor over for another checkup, alright? Once that’s done, there’s something important I need to tell you.”
The doctor examined Li Jia thoroughly. Once finished, the doctor let out a breath of relief. “Aside from some lingering weakness, there’s nothing serious anymore.”
Hearing the final results, the weight that had been hanging over Ye Chengxing’s heart finally lifted completely. “Thank you, Doctor.”
The doctor shook her head. “No need to be so polite. Though there’s no major issue, there are still a few things to watch out for over the next few days.”
Ye Chengxing diligently noted down all the doctor’s instructions. Only then did the doctor leave the room.
On the sickbed, Li Jia appeared to be listening to their conversation, but in truth, her gaze was fixed solely on Ye Chengxing.
The sensation of the temporary mark at her nape was so vivid.
Her body now carried the scent of Ye Chengxing’s pheromones.
She was so happy. She loved it so much.
The pleasure bordered on dizziness, her heart racing wildly, the excitement and infatuation in her eyes nearly spilling over uncontrollably.
“…Understood, Doctor. I’ll make sure to remember all of this.” The alpha’s voice was utterly earnest.
As the doctor left and Ye Chengxing closed the room door before walking back toward the bed, Li Jia quickly lowered her eyes to hide her excessive excitement.
Ye Chengxing walked back to Li Jia’s bedside, mentally reviewing the doctor’s instructions once more.
She had spent the previous night researching more about alpha-omega dynamics.
With the doctor gone, only she and Li Jia remained in the room.
“Xiao Li.” Ye Chengxing sat at the edge of the bed and called out softly.
At the sound of her voice, the omega’s lashes trembled. Fresh from recovery, her frail state lent her inherent beauty an air of obedience and vulnerability.
Ye Chengxing looked at Li Jia, her tone serious and sincere. “Though this temporary mark was only a treatment measure, I don’t see it as a trivial matter. Xiao Li, I will take responsibility for it.”
Her words were firmly resolute, each one clear and gentle as they reached Li Jia’s ears.
As Li Jia listened, the joy in her heart suddenly froze.
This heat period had unfolded exactly as she had planned, every step matching her design perfectly.
But people were greedy by nature. Having gotten what she wanted before, now an even harder-to-satisfy desire had sprouted.
She wanted her to take responsibility.
But no—she didn’t want responsibility. She wanted her affection, her uncontrollable emotions, her… love.
Ye Chengxing was too good to her, cherishing her as something unique. No one in the world had ever treated her this way.
But it wasn’t love.
She pitied her, ached for her—or in other words, she loved her, but it was more like protective care and tenderness.
Just like now: she wanted to take responsibility because she had given her a temporary mark. It was simply her principle, the duty of an alpha toward an omega. Even if it had been another omega.
Even… if it had been another omega.
Li Jia blinked and finally raised her lashes.
“No need. I don’t require Sister’s responsibility.” The beautiful omega tilted her head slightly, then curved her eyes into the faintest, slowest smile. “This was just a treatment. It’s not love. It’s not worth committing a lifetime for that.”
