The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 42

Ji Min gently held Jiang Yunbian’s hand, only to realize that the boy’s fingers were already longer than hers.

 

Jiang Yunbian had grown up without her even noticing.

 

The elevator doors opened again, and Ji Min exchanged a glance with Jiang Mu from a short distance away.

 

Having divorced, the ex-couples met again at the hospital. Jiang Mu looked somewhat stunned, while the woman in front of him gave a mocking smile.

 

“You had my son come here. Surely you don’t expect him to apologize to your mistress?”

 

Jiang Mu frowned. “Jiang Yunbian made a mistake.”

 

“No matter how big the mistake, it’s nothing compared to what you’ve done.”

 

Jiang Mu’s expression darkened. Ji Min ignored him and opened the hospital room door with Jiang Yunbian.

 

Bai Yinglian looked stunned for a moment. She hadn’t expected Ji Min to be the visitor and looked blankly at the door. “Jiang Mu…”

 

“It doesn’t look like there’s any real problem here,” Ji Min observed the woman lying in bed who seemed perfectly fine, “I thought you were in a hurry to have my son come here to apologize.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was taken aback. It was the first time he had seen his mother so angry.

 

Jiang Mu said unhappily, “What are you doing here? If it’s just to provoke her, you can leave now.”

 

“Are you joking?” Ji Min held Jiang Yunbian’s hand. “The only thing that could make me come here is your and Bai Yinglian’s funeral.”

 

“Ji Min, don’t go too far.”

 

“Go too far?” Ji Min’s expression was as if she had heard something extremely funny. “How dare you say that?”

 

Ji Min was someone with inherent pride. When Jiang Mu cheated on Bai Yinglian, she neither argued nor made a scene. She had Jiang Mu pack his things and leave on the same day and sent a divorce agreement to the other party the next day.

 

If it weren’t for Jiang Yunbian, she wouldn’t have even spared them a glance.

 

Jiang Mu’s expression darkened. “This is a hospital. You’d better show some manners.”

 

“Do you think you’re in a position to talk about manners? You took custody of my son from me and promised to take good care of him, only for the living expenses to be controlled by your mistress, which you seem unaware of.”

 

Ji Min’s eyes were full of cold sarcasm. “You haven’t been raising your son, yet now you act like a father lecturing Yunbian.”

 

“Jiang Mu, you’ve really crossed my bottom line.”

 

Jiang Mu had been suppressing his anger, but upon hearing this, he turned directly to Jiang Yunbian. “You didn’t take the bank card?”

 

Jiang Yunbian felt it was rather pointless. He didn’t want Jiang Mu’s money or to be entangled with this family.

 

He didn’t answer, but Ji Min couldn’t hold back. “Jiang Mu, you’re asking the wrong person. You should ask your sweetheart.”

 

Jiang Mu turned to Bai Yinglian, whose face had turned red with suppressed emotion. He controlled himself and asked, “Yinglian, what’s going on?”

 

Bai Yinglian clutched the bedsheet tightly, knowing full well that this matter couldn’t be hidden. Even if she lied, Jiang Mu would see the truth once he checked the bank statements.

 

“I… I…” She shrank into herself, her voice weak. “I gave it to Yunbian, but no matter how I persuaded him, he wouldn’t accept it. I thought maybe he still had feelings for you, so I was planning to…”

 

“Bai Yinglian, at this point, if you’re still trying to sow discord, just hearing another word from you makes me sick.”

 

Ji Min threw this remark and pulled Jiang Yunbian out of the room.

 

She had made her point, and she had no interest in how Jiang Mu would confront Bai Yinglian afterward.

 

She didn’t want her son to be involved in this nauseating misunderstanding.

 

After getting into the car, Ji Min gently touched Jiang Yunbian’s cheek. “Yunbian, I need to ask you something. Please tell me the truth.”

 

Jiang Yunbian nodded.

 

“When I divorced your father, did you really choose to stay with him?”

 

As an Omega, Ji Min had never been one to passively accept things. Even after marriage, she never gave up her career and was independent and strong.

 

But when she found out about the third party in her marriage, she was inevitably panicked. Later, when Jiang Mu took custody of Jiang Yunbian, she didn’t have time to think deeply.

 

That year, when Yun Yi had an accident and was hospitalized, and Yunbian was detained by the police for fighting, Ji Min was entirely focused on her daughter. This gave Jiang Mu an opportunity.

 

When that man said, “Your son himself says he doesn’t want to be with you. If you still want him, you can’t get a divorce,” she fell into despair and transferred her resentment towards her husband onto her son.

 

After an Omega is betrayed by their partner, they can lose control and become unusually fragile and suspicious. She hadn’t even properly discussed things with her son, consumed by the thought that her husband couldn’t support the family and her son couldn’t protect his sister.

 

She maintained her composure with nearly shattered sanity, and stubbornly kept her son away while stopping the siblings from meeting.

 

But many things were only realized later. She numbed herself with work, avoided facing her wounds, and now, three years had passed, and some things were clearer.

 

Jiang Yunbian was her son whom she raised single-handedly. Could he really be the one to indiscriminately choose the erring father and abandon his injured sister?

 

Seeing the tears well up in her mother’s eyes, Jiang Yunbian gently lifted his fingertips and lightly touched her eyelashes.

 

“No.”

 

Ji Min embraced her son tightly, her voice trembling with tears. “Sorry, darling. It’s my fault… Sorry, sorry.”

 

Jiang Yunbian suddenly felt deeply that his mother was also a fragile Omega.

 

Omega who go through divorce and injury are often deeply affected. They need to undergo surgery to remove their marks, break their dependence on their partner’s pheromones, and care for their daughter.

 

Ji Min must have had a hard time these past three years.

 

*

 

The custody issue involved legal procedures. Ji Min, worried that Jiang Mu might continue to find people at school, had Jiang Yunbian take a leave of absence.

 

Jiang Yunbian lay in bed for a long time, his mind swirling with unpleasant past events.

 

At fifteen, he had fought a battle, pinning a bloody Alpha under his feet, and was restrained with pheromone suppression cuffs when the police arrived.

 

In the hospital, his father held his examination report, with several data points abnormal.

 

Jiang Mu said, “Yunbian, your mother saw the report and said you’re a high-risk Alpha. She can’t take care of you.”

 

At that time, Jiang Yunbian was overwhelmed with guilt over his sister, and his own abnormality and his mother’s “abandonment” made him feel dead inside.

 

Later, he always felt abandoned, with his mother and sister not wanting him, and his father with a new family. He felt out of place wherever he was.

 

But the truth made him feel sick.

 

After waking up from a nap, Jiang Yunbian found that it was already completely dark.

 

He took out his phone and saw that many people had sent him messages.

 

Most were from Zhou Miaomiao, with the latest message sent just five minutes ago.

 

It was a meme of a stuffed toy lying on the ground, rolling around in a sad attempt to attract attention.

 

Jiang Yunbian smiled slightly and opened the chat, replying with a period.

 

At this hour, class hadn’t ended yet. Just as he was about to put his phone down, Zhou Die’s message came back.

 

[Zhou Miaomiao: Is it convenient to talk?]

 

Jiang Yunbian sat up, cleared his throat, and replied.

 

Waiting for the call made him a bit nervous. Whether it was overthinking or excessive self-consciousness… he always had the illusion that Zhou Die really wanted to hear his voice.

 

As this thought became clear, Jiang Yunbian quickly wiped his face.

 

How could he think so much!

 

“Yunbian, are you okay?” Zhou Die’s voice came through the phone as soon as it was answered.

 

Jiang Yunbian felt an inexplicable tingling at the back of his neck, as if he were back to yesterday morning, feeling Zhou Die’s warmth beside him while they slept together.

 

“I’m fine. Everything is good.” Jiang Yunbian hesitated for a moment before replying, gently touching his nose, his gaze unsure of where to go. “I rested at home after coming back this morning. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

 

Jiang Yunbian hadn’t had the mood to use his phone all morning.

 

“I know, I was just worried.”

 

Silence lingered between the two, and Jiang Yunbian increasingly felt awkward. Just as he was about to find a topic to steer the conversation, he heard Zhou Die’s very soft voice.

 

“I miss you a bit.”

 

Jiang Yunbian suppressed his voice, moved the phone away from his ear, and stared at the ceiling for a while before putting the phone back.

 

He responded somewhat awkwardly, “Hmm.”

 

Zhou Die seemed to laugh, or maybe he didn’t.

 

Jiang Yunbian’s ears felt very hot.

 

They talked briefly about school and mentioned Xu Zhan. Then Zhou Die’s question turned to the topic of taking leave.

 

“Do you really have to wait until the final exams to come back?”

 

“Yeah, otherwise my dad might go back to school,” Jiang Yunbian stretched and said half-jokingly, “It’s good at home; I can sleep in while you guys have early classes in the winter.”

 

“Yeah, that’s good. No competitors then.”

 

Jiang Yunbian responded with an “Eh,” and asked, “Zhou Die, are you provoking me?”

 

“Well, since the last time, the chocolate tasted good.”

 

“Alright,” Jiang Yunbian licked his back teeth, “Zhou Die, feel free to relax your guard. I’ll make a comeback.”

 

“Want to bet?”

 

“Sure, let’s bet.” Jiang Yunbian responded cheerfully, exuding a feeling of a Shanghai Bund gambler.

 

“If you lose, you have to accompany me on New Year’s Eve.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was taken aback, “New Year’s Eve? Aren’t you…”

 

Zhou Die seemed to think for a moment, “Video call? Or, if not, just a voice call.”

 

It wasn’t an unreasonable request. Jiang Yunbian agreed. When asked what he wanted, an unusual itch suddenly crept up the back of his neck.

 

The heat from last night started again, and he realized he was still going through the heat.

 

“Jiang Yunbian?” Zhou Die heard his slightly heavy breathing and reacted quickly, “Did you bring the suppressants with you?”

 

As the heat surged, Jiang Yunbian felt his strength slowly draining away.

 

“I’ll come to your place now.”

 

“No…” Jiang Yunbian took a deep breath, “You still have classes. I’ll talk to my mom.”

 

Zhou Die paused slightly, “Alright.”

 

Zhou Die seemed to say a few more things, but Jiang Yunbian didn’t catch them, his mind preoccupied with how to confess to his mother.

 

Forget it; overthinking won’t help.

 

Just as Jiang Yunbian was about to make a call, there was a knock at the door.

 

“Yunbian, it’s me.” Ji Min’s voice came softly from outside.

 

Jiang Yunbian immediately straightened up with effort and tried to maintain some composure when facing his mother.

 

But Ji Min frowned as she entered, scrutinizing him for a while before asking, “What’s going on with your pheromones?”

 

Jiang Yunbian tightened his hand resting on the edge of the bed and calmly looked up at his mother.

 

“Mom, do you still remember Zhou Die?”

 

“He’s Enigma.”

 

*

 

As soon as Jiang Yunbian mentioned Enigma, Ji Min became anxious and took him to the hospital.

 

Only when she had all the test reports in hand did she lean against the wall.

 

The doctor adjusted his glasses and said, “Enigma is quite rare, and after an Alpha is marked, they generally develop a strong dependence, and bodily data changes.”

 

He pulled up the blood test report data, “But your child’s data is normal, indicating that although he was marked, he was well cared for. Enigma did not overly influence him with pheromones but used specially formulated suppressants to help him through the heat.”

 

The source of the specialized suppressants was also explained by the doctor.

 

Ji Min listened attentively, “My child, is now…”

 

“An Alpha,” the doctor confirmed, “Miss Ji, actually, the marking by Enigma can enhance the marked person’s physical fitness to some extent. As long as your child was not coerced and accepted it willingly, there are no drawbacks.”

 

Ji Min nodded, flipping through all the information, uncertain of her emotions for a moment.

 

After sending a message to her daughter at home, she thought again about the boy from that night.

 

Jiang Yunbian had injected a regular suppressant and was chatting with Zhou Die in the hospital room.

 

Compared to the specialized suppressants, the regular ones were less effective. After the indescribable heat subsided, only exhaustion remained.

 

He was feeling a bit drowsy while chatting, and when Zhou Die asked where he was, he only sent a location.

 

“Yunbian.” Ji Min opened the door, speaking softly.

 

She wasn’t sure how to deal with this kind of Alpha, so she spoke gently, afraid of startling him.

 

“Mm.” Jiang Yunbian forced himself to sit up straight.

 

Ji Min came up to him, “I want to hear about your marking.”

 

Jiang Yunbian agreed and ended up honestly explaining the cause and process to her, also smoothing out the conflicts from the past.

 

He omitted the misunderstandings between him and Zhou Die and emphasized the coincidence of their pheromone compatibility.

 

However, when he reached the events of the past few days, he suddenly stopped talking.

 

Should he mention the confession?

 

Ji Min noticed his subtle change in expression, lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, “So, that boy really likes you, doesn’t he?”

 

Jiang Yunbian was stunned, thinking he had been thorough in his explanations and had never mentioned the emotional aspect. How did his mother figure it out?

 

“Didn’t you realize?” Ji Min found it a bit amusing, “You kept praising that boy as very gentle.”

 

If it weren’t mixed with another kind of emotion, why would he describe the person who marked him with such words?

 

Jiang Yunbian’s face suddenly flushed red, and he quickly corrected himself, “No, I just stated the facts.”

 

Ji Min rested her chin on her hand, finding his reaction quite novel.

 

Since Jiang Yunbian had not stayed at school after the incident, he naturally hadn’t talked about such matters with her. When he was young, he was a wild child, and she was worried he wouldn’t know how to pursue a liked Omega.

 

Unexpectedly, they ended up discussing such topics in this situation.

 

It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, Ji Min thought.

 

“So, how does that boy feel about you?” she asked, “Is it just because of the pheromone compatibility that he’s nice to you?”

 

The correct answer should have been a nod, but Jiang Yunbian felt it was unfair to Zhou Die.

 

After all, Zhou Die had repeatedly emphasized he wasn’t influenced by pheromones.

 

Ji Min was waiting for his answer when the door to the ward was gently knocked.

 

Turning around, the nurse had already opened the door, and Zhou Die, slightly out of breath, stood outside.

 

He seemed a bit stunned, but upon seeing Ji Min, he quickly composed himself and said seriously, “Hello, Auntie.”

 

Ji Min smiled, and suddenly she had an answer.

 

She waved him over and asked gently, “Here to see Yunbian?” 

 

Zhou Die looked up and noticed Jiang Yunbian already lying on the bed with his back turned, clearly unwilling to interact with him.

 

He moved his backpack in front of him, placed the suppressant on the table, and said awkwardly, “Yun… Jiang classmate left his suppressant at the dormitory, so I brought it to him.”

 

Zhou Die thought that with Jiang Yunbian’s personality, he probably wouldn’t honestly admit his physical condition to his parents.

 

If he was unwilling to speak, it meant he hadn’t handled things well, so Zhou Die should have helped him cover it up.

 

But now Jiang Yunbian, lying in bed, just wanted to hide under the covers.

 

How could Zhou Die time his arrival so precisely!

 

Ji Min kept her expression neutral and said sternly, “This isn’t good. You’re an Alpha too, shouldn’t you avoid being around during another Alpha’s heat period?”

 

Zhou Die pursed his lips slightly and then replied, “Jiang classmate has helped me a lot, bringing the suppressant is a small matter.”

 

Ji Min exclaimed, half-jokingly, “Oh, I thought you came rushing over because you like him.”

 

Jiang Yunbian realized what his mother was implying and was about to interrupt their bizarre conversation when Zhou Die coughed.

 

“Actually…”

 

“Zhou Die!” Jiang Yunbian grabbed his shirt, “You said you still have exam papers to finish tonight, right? Hurry up and go back to write them!”

 

Zhou Die looked down at him, seeming reluctant, and after a long pause, finally shifted his gaze away.

 

“Okay, then I…”

 

“Yunbian, it’s not very nice to send someone away when they hurriedly brought you your suppressant, is it?” Ji Min said with a smile. “Sit down, Xiao Zhou.”

 

Jiang Yunbian gave him a warning look, probably suggesting not to speak out of turn.

 

Zhou Die sat down on the chair by the bed and said softly, “Rest well.”

 

If Ji Min hadn’t been there, Jiang Yunbian might have really punched him.

 

Ji Min pressed her temples, “I’m not always around Yunbian, and it’s actually made his classmate worried. It’s my fault.”

 

“No, it’s my fault.” Zhou Die said seriously but, after being distracted by Jiang Yunbian’s gaze, swallowed the rest of his sentence. “It’s only right.”

 

“By the way, I heard from Yun Yi that recently many girls confessed to Yunbian at school?” Ji Min said with a smile, sounding like an ordinary mother interested in her child’s school life. “Do you know about this, Xiao Zhou?”

 

Jiang Yunbian realized his mother was fishing for information! He pretended to be nonchalant and replied, “No, Yun Yi is just talking nonsense…”

 

“Mm, many people like him.”

 

Ji Min’s eyes deepened, “And you?”

 

If Zhou Die had been somewhat reserved due to the presence of elders and considering Jiang Yunbian’s feelings, he suddenly understood what Ji Min was asking with this question.

 

“I do.”

 

Ji Min looked back and saw her son lying flat, his ears burning but not daring to open his eyes.

 

It seemed there was a mutual understanding.

 

Silly child.

 

She breathed a sigh of relief, “When I came back today, the scent of his pheromones was off, so I brought him here for a check-up.”

 

Seeing the report in her hand, Zhou Die realized why Jiang Yunbian’s reaction was so strong.

 

Ji Min knew everything.

 

Zhou Die adjusted his expression, becoming serious again, “I’m very sorry. I didn’t control myself well, and my pheromones affected Yunbian.”

 

Ji Min raised an eyebrow slightly, “The doctor told me that Enigma is very rare and generally won’t affect ordinary people unless they have aggressive intentions. However, if the pheromones are highly compatible, there will still be a reaction even without marking.”

 

The probability of this was very low.

 

But it did happen to her son.

 

“Yes,” Zhou Die admitted calmly, “Our family is also aware that my issues caused Yunbian trouble, so we have prepared a detoxification program as per his request.”

 

Ji Min knew Zhou Die’s family reputation, and as long as Zhou Die wanted, Jiang Yunbian would not be neglected.

 

“Xiao Zhou,” Ji Min looked at him, “Auntie is very grateful for the care you’ve given Yunbian during this time and understands your special situation. I never intended to completely restrict my two children; who they choose as partners, whether A or O, is their choice.”

 

“I won’t judge your current relationship, but I hope, regardless of what happens, some things shouldn’t cross the boundary of being underage.”

 

Jiang Yunbian’s gaze was fixed on the ceiling, suddenly recalling what his mother had told him years ago.

 

Back in middle school, when he was reluctant to study and wanted to join a band.

 

“I won’t interfere with your preferences, but I hope you can make truly correct decisions at this age. Some things you really like and want to pursue now, but don’t let your decisions become a ‘last-ditch effort.’”

 

His gaze aimlessly fell on Zhou Die’s back.

 

Zhou Die showed no sign of retreat or hesitation and simply said, “Thank you.”

 

Ji Min left space for the two young people to be alone.

 

Jiang Yunbian’s strength returned a bit. He let his right leg dangle off the bed, swinging aimlessly.

 

“I see you’re quite sharp in your studies, but how come you’re so naïve? You don’t even realize when someone is probing you.”

 

Zhou Die chuckled softly, “Hmm, I really didn’t know you had already admitted it to the elders.”

 

“I didn’t!” Jiang Yunbian turned his head, “It’s my mom who figured it out.”

 

What’s this about admitting to the elders?

 

As if being liked by him was something to show off.

 

Is that the kind of person he is!

 

Zhou Die noticed Jiang Yunbian’s little outburst and reached out to tap his fingers at the edge of the bed. “Hmm, my mistake. I shouldn’t have thought of you like that.”

 

In fact, he thought that if Jiang Yunbian had told his mother he liked him, it would have made him happy.

 

It would be like receiving some form of recognition.

 

“Do you think this counts as meeting the parents?”

 

“Xiao Zhou, you have some nerve.” Jiang Yunbian pulled his finger away, “As if I agreed to anything.”

 

Jiang Yunbian, always pushing boundaries, realized his tone was a bit harsh after saying that. He waited awkwardly for Zhou Die’s response, but when none came, his mood started to shift.

 

He suddenly felt like the spoiled, shameless character in those melodramas Jiang Yunyi watched.

 

“Cough, I didn’t mean it like that.” He added quickly, “Just that my mom is right. Only adults can make such choices.”