The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 51

Jiang Yunbian had always been good at singing, and since he was the main character of the night, his classmates egged him on to sing several songs before they were satisfied and let him go.

 

At first, he was a bit reserved. Xu Zhaoru came over and suggested, “Jiang Ge, how about a love song? Maybe you and Zhou Die could do a duet?”

 

Jiang Yunbian raised an eyebrow and smiled as he looked at Zhou Die in the crowd. The latter was resting his chin on his hand, giving him a soft smile.

 

That smile was like a hook, making Jiang Yunbian’s palms itch.

 

The class monitor joined in on the fun, “Come on, a love song duet!” and quickly selected the song “Little Dimple.”

 

Even though the song had a bit of an old-school vibe, its melody was catchy.

 

Gao Zining quietly complained, “How old is this song…”

 

The class monitor glared at him, “Dare you call my idol’s song old? Want me to punch you? Don’t you know this is a classic love confession song?”

 

After the love song was claimed, Jiang Yunbian felt a slight sense of regret.

 

He sat back down next to Zhou Die and whispered, “Too bad, I didn’t get to hear you sing.”

 

Zhou Die smiled lightly and handed him a glass of orange juice, his voice soft like a gentle whisper, “I’m not a good singer, little Jiang.”

 

Jiang Yunbian blushed at those four words, “Alright, stop calling me that.”

 

The ones singing were the class monitor and another girl. Their sweet voices seemed to pour honey into the lyrics, making everyone smile.

 

While everyone was immersed in the song, Jiang Yunbian subtly adjusted his position and leaned against Zhou Die’s shoulder.

 

Zhou Die was originally sending a message, but when that faint mint scent drifted closer, it caught his attention. He wanted to discreetly put his arm around Jiang Yunbian’s waist, but then he heard Jiang Yunbian softly singing along with the accompaniment.

 

As he leaned in closer, he clearly heard Jiang Yunbian singing along with the girl’s part: “…I will love you forever.”

 

After finishing the line, the usually fierce Jiang Wangwang turned into a cunning little Jiang fox, slipping away in an instant.

 

Zhou Die’s heartbeat quickened slightly as he raised his gaze to follow, but Jiang Yunbian seemed determined to tease and run, hiding in the crowd and not giving Zhou Die another chance to catch him.

 

Since birthdays were typically spent with family, the class was having fun but knew their limits.

 

They played until 8 PM, and by the time they dispersed, Gao Zining’s voice was hoarse.

 

“You always want to hog the mic even though you can’t sing. Do you need a lesson?” Xu Zhan handed him a throat lozenge, “Alright, hurry home.”

 

Gao Zining rasped, “Jiang Ge, wishing you a long life, good health, and endless fortune…”

 

Then, Xu Zhan quickly carried him away, not letting him finish his robotic recitation.

 

After sending everyone off, Jiang Yunbian was left with a pile of gifts and felt a bit overwhelmed.

 

“That’s why I’m not really into surprises,” he muttered softly, feeling like his wrists were weighed down.

 

Zhou Die helped him carry several stuffed animals and bags, “Got any plans next?”

 

“Maybe I’ll stop by home?” Jiang Yunbian had just finished saying this when his phone rang.

 

Half an hour ago, he had sent a message to his sister. She and their mother had gone to participate in the Omega-exclusive university’s self-recruitment exam, and they were just now replying.

 

“Jiang Ge, I still have two exams tomorrow, so I can’t make it back…” Jiang Yunyi was almost in tears on the other end. She had been so focused on preparing for the entrance exam that she had completely forgotten about her brother’s upcoming birthday.

 

“It’s okay, just focus on studying. Getting accepted is the best gift you could give me.” Jiang Yunbian comforted her softly, afraid that his birthday would affect her.

 

“We’ll make it up to you with a proper celebration after my exams!”

 

“Alright, good luck with your exams.” Jiang Yunbian reassured her a bit more before hanging up.

 

Zhou Die heard him let out a small sigh.

 

After putting his phone away, Jiang Yunbian smiled, “I was planning to go home, but it seems no one’s there now.”

 

Zhou Die looked at him seriously for a moment, “Want to come to my place? My mom knows it’s your birthday.”

 

When Wen Yue heard that Jiang Yunbian was coming over, she immediately started cooking. By the time they reached the door, a whole table of delicious dishes was already laid out.

 

“Isn’t this a bit too much?” Jiang Yunbian whispered as he approached, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Wen Yue’s enthusiasm.

 

“You don’t have to eat it all.” Zhou Die put the gifts down on the sofa. “I’ll go upstairs to grab something. Be right back.”

 

Jiang Yunbian nodded and sat obediently on the sofa.

 

When Zhou Die came back down carrying a gift, Jiang Yunbian realized and muttered, “You planned to lure me over here all along, didn’t you?”

 

Like a proud dog that knows it’s loved but still pretends to be aloof.

 

Zhou Die chuckled, handing the gift to him, “Yes, I intended to get you here one way or another.”

 

Jiang Yunbian adjusted his posture, accepting the gift with both hands, “Thank you.”

 

Zhou Die stared at his profile for a moment before lowering his gaze slightly, “Don’t get your hopes too high.”

 

This made Jiang Yunbian even more curious.

 

“Can I open it?”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

The red box filled his hands. When Jiang Yunbian started to open it, he felt a moment of nervousness, wondering if Zhou Die had gotten him…

 

Inside the box lay a simple silver earring.

 

“Wow.” Jiang Yunbian couldn’t help but let out a breath of relief, but then he felt a different kind of excitement. “It’s really nice. Thank you!”

 

It was a vintage design with a delicate dark green leaf in the center. Upon closer inspection, the leaf was shaped like mint.

 

As Jiang Yunbian held it in his hand, he could faintly smell the scent of cedar. The shine of the mint leaf was the same as the one on the pheromone necklace Zhou Die had given him earlier.

 

When Jiang Yunbian picked it up, he noticed that there were numbers engraved on the back of the earring—0305, his birthday.

 

A custom earring just for him.

 

“Does this have your pheromones in it?”

 

“It’s a mix of mine and yours. The veins of the leaf are divided into two areas, with each of us taking one side.” Zhou Die spoke softly, “It might be similar to the necklace I gave you before, but this felt like the most fitting choice.”

 

As for why it was a mint leaf with pheromones infused… He wanted to use this discreet way to declare that the Cross Star had now become his exclusive mint.

 

Jiang Yunbian really liked the earring. Back when he was around thirteen or fourteen, during his rebellious phase, he had gotten his ears pierced. One of his favorite things was picking out earrings.

 

At that time, it was all about looking cool, and after trying out various styles, he decided that black crosses had the most personality, eventually earning him the nickname “Cross Star.”

 

He wanted to put it on, but hesitated, afraid he’d seem too eager, “How did you know I had my ears pierced?”

 

Zhou Die’s gaze flickered as he scrambled for an explanation.

 

“Once…”

 

“Once?”

 

“Once, when we went back to the dorm, I saw you pinching your earlobe.”

 

Jiang Yunbian remembered. It was that time when Jiang Yunyi sent him something, and he tried it on, only to be caught by Zhou Die.

 

“You’re pretty observant.” Jiang Yunbian couldn’t hold back anymore, “I want to wear it.”

 

“Let me help.”

 

Zhou Die leaned in, his fingers gently brushing against Jiang Yunbian’s ear.

 

The tickling sensation spread from his earlobe, and when Jiang Yunbian tried to move away, there was no room left to retreat.

 

Zhou Die’s fingertips delicately guided the earring through.

 

“Is it on?” Jiang Yunbian didn’t dare to look him in the eye.

 

Zhou Die gazed at his profile, chuckling softly, “It suits you.”

 

The blush on Jiang Yunbian’s ears had spread to the corners of his eyes. He quickly averted his gaze, not answering.

 

Wen Yue was hesitating about whether to go downstairs and buy a cake when Jiang Yunbian stopped her.

 

“I already had some at school today, no need for more, Auntie.” He sat obediently at the table, looking a bit bashful.

 

Wen Yue placed a bowl of longevity noodles in front of him, “Yunbian, I wish you good health and a long life.”

 

Jiang Yunbian responded obediently.

 

“Xiao Die said you guys went to a training camp for two weeks? How was it?” Wen Yue asked gently.

 

Jiang Yunbian didn’t mention the conflicts he had and instead focused on praising Zhou Die for consistently ranking first in all four exams.

 

“Really? Xiao Die is that…”

 

Zhou Die’s phone rang just at that moment. When Wen Yue saw that it was a call from the Zhou family, she told him to answer it.

 

Zhou Die stepped out onto the balcony, and a cool breeze slipped in through the door crack, brushing against the back of Wen Yue’s neck.

 

The pain seemed to come suddenly. Just moments ago, Wen Yue’s expression had been gentle, but now it turned ugly.

 

She hurriedly pulled out her phone to check it, then raised her hand to support herself on the table.

 

Jiang Yunbian noticed something was wrong and immediately stood up, asking, “What’s the matter? Auntie, are you…”

 

“It’s nothing, Yunbian. I’m fine.” She coughed lightly twice, but suddenly the scent of gardenias started to seep out from the back of her neck.

 

It was her Omega heat!

 

“Yunbian, help Auntie get the inhibitor from the drawer…”

 

Jiang Yunbian quickly fetched the inhibitor and blocker, but in just a brief moment, Wen Yue’s condition deteriorated rapidly, as if she were in intense pain.

 

He had never seen an Omega suffer so much during their heat.

 

“Auntie, here.” Jiang Yunbian handed the inhibitor to her, then quickly turned around to call Zhou Die back in.

 

When Wen Yue regained consciousness, she was already lying in a hospital bed, with Jiang Yunbian, Zhou Die, and other members of the Zhou family around her.

 

She tried to get up but was still too weak, so Zhou Die helped her.

 

“Why is everyone here?” Her face was still pale, but she managed a smile. “It’s just… a cold.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was certain that Wen Yue’s condition was not just a cold.

 

That afternoon, when they arrived home, Wen Yue had been laughing and chatting, showing no signs of illness. But as soon as her heat hit, her condition deteriorated rapidly.

 

Madam Zhou had a serious expression as she looked at the now-awake Wen Yue, then raised her hand to send the two younger ones out.

 

Zhou Die didn’t move.

 

Madam Zhou gently urged, “Xiao Die, you and Grandpa are both Enigmas. Staying here will affect your mother’s rest.”

 

Jiang Yunbian gently tugged at Zhou Die’s sleeve.

 

“Go on, Xiao Die.” Wen Yue also patted his hand. “I’m really fine, maybe just a bit tired.”

 

After the room quieted down, Madam Zhou sat on the chair by the bed, looking at Wen Yue.

 

“Sister-in-law, the doctor told me your condition is related to the one who marked you,” Madam Zhou said, frowning. “Tell me honestly, how long has this been going on?”

 

Wen Yue’s eyes still held a smile, pure and unafraid.

 

“It’s really just a small issue.”

 

Madam Zhou’s voice trembled: “Multiple organ failure caused by Alpha pheromones is a small issue?”

 

Wen Yue’s smile faded slightly, and her expression softened: “I considered all possibilities when I met Zhou Shang, so I’m not afraid.”

 

Zhou Shang—Zhou Die’s father and Madam Zhou’s brother.

 

Back when Old Master Zhou was younger, he was domineering and had a strong desire to control as an Enigma. After his wife passed away, he became obsessed with his son inheriting his genes.

 

But Zhou Shang disappointed him time and again. No matter how many genetic tests he took, he was only an Alpha.

 

Eventually, Old Master Zhou arranged for the top Omega to marry his son, but by then, the father-son relationship had already reached its breaking point.

 

Zhou Shang didn’t want to be controlled by his father, and Old Master Zhou refused to let him go.

 

Later, it was Madam Zhou who helped her brother escape the cage from the inside out, leading to his meeting Wen Yue.

 

But their happiness was short-lived. Just three months after they got together, Zhou Shang was taken back by the Zhou family.

 

Soon after, he died on the operating table due to illness.

 

Old Master Zhou only realized the depth of his loss after he had lost his son, but by then, he was consumed by the immense pain of losing him and didn’t notice the birth of a new life.

 

When Madam Zhou found Wen Yue, Zhou Die was already over four years old.

 

Wen Yue agreed to let Zhou Die return home, but she herself stayed in the small apartment she had shared with Zhou Shang.

 

It wasn’t until Wen Yue was harassed at work by an Alpha that the old man finally put his foot down and made her come back, even blocking them from seeing each other as a way to bring her back to the Zhou family.

 

“I just received the doctor’s report. The lifelong mark my brother gave you is corroding your body every time you enter heat.”

 

Zhou Shang had been injected with various catalysts and activators, and his pheromones and lifelong mark had different effects on Omegas.

 

Although highly compatible AO pairs would usually see the Omega deteriorate over time after separation, modern medicine had found ways to solve this problem. By washing away the lifelong mark after losing their partner, an Omega could prevent deterioration and greatly extend their lifespan.

 

Madam Zhou realized with shock, “You didn’t wash away the mark?”

 

*

 

Jiang Yunbian had almost never seen Zhou Die in such a low mood.

 

The distance between them seemed to have returned to when they first met, or even further apart.

 

Jiang Yunbian felt as if he saw a lonely child in Zhou Die, waiting for his mother to pick him up after school.

 

“Zhou Die.” Jiang Yunbian, feeling helpless in this situation, softly called his name and sat beside him. “It’ll be okay.”

 

Zhou Die seemed to hear his voice belatedly, turning his head to look at him without saying anything.

 

Jiang Yunbian was indeed a bit surprised; Zhou Die’s gaze was so cold it felt unfamiliar.

 

But he didn’t retreat. Instead, he raised his hand and clasped Zhou Die’s palm. “Auntie Wen will definitely be fine.”

 

Old Master Zhou sat quietly across from them. Watching the small interaction between his grandson and Jiang Yunbian, a hint of sorrow flickered in his eyes.

 

In the past, it was through his iron will that he built the Zhou family’s current status. His early arrogance and domineering nature had blinded him.

 

Many things were already too late to fix when he realized he had done wrong. Now, he only hoped for the good health of Wen Yue and her son.

 

Madam Zhou emerged after talking for about ten minutes, forcing a smile. “Xiao Die, Yunbian, you can go in now.”

 

Jiang Yunbian walked to Wen Yue’s bedside, asking anxiously, “Auntie, how are you feeling?”

 

Wen Yue smiled and touched the side of his face, then looked up at her child.

 

Zhou Die had always been like this. Knowing he was an Enigma, he would stand at a distance when he had emotions, waiting until he had processed them before getting close.

 

“Xiao Die.” Wen Yue’s hoarse voice softly called his name, “Come here.”

 

Zhou Die walked up to his mother, allowing her to gently hold him in her arms.

 

“Did I scare you? I’m okay,” Wen Yue softly rubbed the back of his head. “Don’t worry, I still want to see you grow up, see you meet someone you like, and watch you start your own family and career.”

 

Zhou Die’s tense nerves gradually relaxed under his mother’s soothing touch.

 

Seeing Zhou Die’s expression soften, Jiang Yunbian finally felt a weight lift off his chest.

 

Zhou Die lowered his head, gently holding his mother’s hand. “I was really worried.”

 

“Sorry to make you worry.” Wen Yue kissed his cheek. “Madam Zhou has arranged for me to have some tests done. I might need to stay in the hospital for a couple of days.”

 

“I’ll stay with you.”

 

Wen Yue smiled as she touched his hair. “But it’s Yunbian’s birthday today, isn’t it? Won’t you take him home?”

 

“It’s fine,” Jiang Yunbian quickly chimed in. “You should rest well. I’m an Alpha; it’s not dangerous for me to go home alone.”

 

There was no way Jiang Yunbian would let Zhou Die take him home at a time like this.

 

“You stay and take care of Auntie. I’ll head home by myself and call you when I get there,” Jiang Yunbian realized that he was only adding to the tension by staying and quickly gathered his things. “My mom’s coming to pick me up, so I’ll head home now.”

 

But Zhou Die still picked up his coat. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

 

Jiang Yunbian initially wanted to decline, but then thought it might seem ungrateful, so he agreed. The two walked side by side to the elevator before Jiang Yunbian turned to him.

 

“Alright, you go back and stay with Auntie. I can get home by myself.”

 

Zhou Die looked at him for a moment, then suddenly reached out and hugged him.

 

“I’m really sorry that your birthday wasn’t very happy.”

 

“Who said that?” Jiang Yunbian raised his hand and wrapped it around Zhou Die’s waist, patting his back. “I had a great time tonight. It’s not anyone’s fault that Auntie isn’t feeling well.”

 

Zhou Die’s grip was tight, indicating just how uneasy he must have been.

 

“I’m calling for a car now,” Jiang Yunbian said as he pulled up the ride-hailing app on his phone in front of Zhou Die, booking the ride to his house and then sending a screenshot of the license plate number to him. “I’m off.”

 

Zhou Die let go, “Good night.”

 

Jiang Yunbian and his mother didn’t get home until noon on Monday, missing the chance to meet him.

 

After Wen Yue’s tests on Sunday, she returned to the Zhou family residence to be cared for by a specialized nutritionist.

 

Zhou Die returned on Monday afternoon and found Jiang Yunbian lying on his desk before class.

 

“How are you?”

 

Zhou Die handed him a small cake. “I’m fine. My mom asked me to give you this as an apology.”

 

It was a small strawberry cake.

 

Gao Zining, from the desk next to them, teased, “Wow, someone’s birthday lasts for two days, and they still get cake!”

 

Yang You chimed in, “I want some too! Jiang, you’re a tough guy. I bet you don’t even eat strawberries. Let me eat that strawberry for you!”

 

Xu Zhan rolled up a test paper and swatted both of them. “Who do you two think you are? You don’t even qualify to eat strawberries!”

 

Then he turned to Jiang Yunbian. “We’ve been bros for so many years, Jiang Yunbian. Surely you’d think of me first…”

 

Without a word, Jiang Yunbian skewered the strawberry with a fork and handed it to Zhou Die.

 

Zhou Die raised an eyebrow slightly and took a bite of the strawberry.

 

Jiang Yunbian: “See that? I’d rather give it to a cat than to you guys.”

 

The three: “?”

 

Zhou Die: “…”

 

After the afternoon classes ended, they were the only two left in the classroom.

 

“Yunbian, I need to discuss something with you.”

 

“Yeah?” Jiang Yunbian stood still.

 

“For the next two weeks, I might have to stay at home.” Zhou Die explained softly, “It’s the time of year when Grandpa goes abroad for his annual checkup. The company is busy, and Madam Zhou doesn’t have time.”

 

Jiang Yunbian suddenly felt his cheeks flush. He wasn’t a child anymore, so why would Zhou Die be so worried about him staying alone?

 

“That’s fine,” Jiang Yunbian scoffed. “Are you looking down on me or something?”

 

Zhou Die looked a bit downcast. “No, it’s just that I’ll miss you.”

 

Jiang Yunbian reached out and ruffled his hair. “Come on, don’t be so clingy. Just make sure you study hard. If I surpass you, I won’t hesitate to mock you.”

 

After Zhou Die went home, Jiang Yunbian realized that he did indeed feel a bit lost.

 

It wasn’t usually like this.

 

After some hesitation, he decided to call Xu Zhan.

 

Jiang Yunbian spoke casually, “Hey, how about you treat me to dinner tonight?”

 

Xu Zhan hesitated and then said, “Sorry, I’ve got something to do tonight.”

 

Jiang Yunbian didn’t expect to find himself with nowhere to go, so he asked Xu Zhan to bring him back some dinner.

 

After hanging up, Xu Zhan sighed with relief.

 

“What’s wrong?” Wen Lin, sitting across from him, asked with a half-smile. “Was that Jiang Yunbian?”

 

Xu Zhan didn’t answer, only staring at him. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it. You know I didn’t participate in the training, so I don’t know what happened between you and Jiang Yunbian.”

 

Wen Lin looked a bit hurt. “Xu Zhan, I met you first, but you’ve always taken Jiang Yunbian’s side. Why won’t any of you listen to my explanation?”

 

“What is there to explain?” Xu Zhan sneered. “By the time I arrived at the scene that day, Yunyi was already unconscious. If I had been a little later, do you know how dangerous it could have been?”

 

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Wen Lin frowned. “You know I was in my heat at the time.”

 

“That’s not an excuse. The way you handled things afterward also seemed very suspicious to me.”

 

Wen Lin had always had strong self-control. How could an alpha who could completely manage his heat make a move on his good friend’s sister?

 

“I called you out today to clearly explain what happened before.” Wen Lin looked serious. “Do you remember what happened that night?”

 

That night was a celebration party. Xu Zhan and Jiang Yunbian were both fired up from the concert, and after downing drink after drink, their heads were spinning.

 

Afterward, Jiang Yunbian was still in high spirits, chatting with the lead singer.

 

Xu Zhan remembered receiving a call from Yunyi that night. She said her brother’s phone wasn’t reachable, and she couldn’t find a ride home after her extracurricular class.

 

Since Jiang Yunbian was tied up, Xu Zhan took a cab himself to pick her up.

 

But when he arrived at the agreed location, his sister was nowhere to be seen.

 

His drunkenness instantly evaporated, and he began frantically searching through alley after alley.

 

Finally, he found her at the mouth of an alley across from the extracurricular class, with Wen Lin pinning his unconscious sister to the ground, her neck covered in blood.

 

“That wasn’t a deep mark.” Wen Lin took a deep breath. “I was in my heat that night and lost control. I did make a move on your sister.”

 

Xu Zhan had never known that even a temporary mark could be so brutal. Later, he learned from Jiang Yunbian that Yunyi had been induced into heat, her glands severely damaged, and she was experiencing intense stress responses. Just being near an alpha caused her to go weak and have trouble breathing. Her pheromones were in complete disarray, and in severe cases, it could even threaten her life.

 

She could no longer return to school and live like a normal person.

 

“What if I told you that I’ve always planned to atone for my actions?” Wen Lin’s expression was incredibly sincere. “My family has found a specialist abroad who can treat her stress response. We’re willing to cover all of Yunyi’s medical expenses.”

 

“Xu Zhan, could you help me? Convince Jiang Yunbian to give me a chance.”