Chapter 112
There wasn't much to see at the school, really. After all, most schools are more or less the same. But being with Gu Ximian made it feel very interesting.
“The classroom… I guess we really can’t get in.”
They arrived at Gu Ximian's old classroom, but the door was securely locked. Zhuang Chi peered through the glass on the back door, looking at the classroom that was now slightly different from before, and sighed with emotion. “Back then, I followed you here and attended classes for several weeks. I nearly finished all the books in your classroom library…”
“Mm.” Gu Ximian said, looking at her with a smile in her eyes. She spoke in a serious tone, “You sat right by my feet. While I was listening to the lecture, you’d be next to me, the sound of you flipping through pages rustling about. When you got tired of reading, you’d just go to sleep. I thought back then that you were living a pretty carefree life, like I was raising a happy-go-lucky puppy.”
…Because it really was carefree. There was nothing to do. Zhuang Chi felt a little embarrassed and whispered, “I didn’t sleep that many times.” Gu Ximian’s eyes curved, and she changed the subject. “But when someone confessed to me, you knew to throw chalk at them. I suppose that counts as fulfilling your duty to protect your master. I should still thank you for that.”
She was talking about what happened on the first day Zhuang Chi followed her to school. At the time, it happened so suddenly that Zhuang Chi had no choice. But thinking back on it, that action must have looked like a full-blown paranormal event to others. She later did hear some classmates discussing it, and some even asked Gu Ximian about it. Hearing this made Zhuang Chi extremely anxious, but Gu Ximian always managed to evade the topic and brush it off, letting it fade away.
“After that, for a long time, there were rumors circulating around the school that I had a guardian spirit or something,”
High school students always loved topics like this, and the more it spread, the more mysterious it became. Gu Ximian chose to ignore it, simply smiling noncommittally whenever anyone asked. Over time, it became a tacitly accepted fact, and no other Alphas dared to rashly bother her again. Even in her third year, classmates would still bring it up. Recalling the situation back then, Gu Ximian smiled quietly and said softly, “Everyone said I had a guardian spirit, but at that time, only I knew that you were no longer by my side.”
She had indeed left in a hurry back then—that was the time she truly didn't stay with Gu Ximian through her entire susceptible period. Zhuang Chi felt a little guilty. “I… wasn't thinking things through back then. I didn't realize that telling you this world was a novel would force me to leave. My sudden disappearance… it must have scared you…”
Gu Ximian was silent for a long moment before shaking her head. “Thinking back on it now… it was fine.”
“When I was fifteen, I was indeed caught off guard. I really did want you to stay, to keep me company for a while longer.” Gu Ximian spoke softly, her gaze shifting away slightly, a little awkwardly. “…But it’s a good thing you didn’t stay too long. Otherwise, the me who was waiting by your bedside on Christmas would probably have gotten very anxious.”
Zhuang Chi was struck speechless, then laughed. Gu Ximian shot her a small glare and pressed forward, seemingly dissatisfied. “Thinking about it carefully, while I was worried about you, you were with my fifteen-year-old self—and it was not long after I kissed you at the Christmas Ball.”
“How did it feel?” Gu Ximian’s voice was faint as she asked, seemingly nonchalantly, “Did you have a good time?”
“…”
…This felt like more than just a simple question. Zhuang Chi blinked and answered haltingly, “…I really wanted to come back quickly at the time. After all, I had to be careful about many things when I was with the you from three years ago. You should know that…”
Gu Ximian recalled for a moment, her voice cool. “Mm. You couldn’t sit on my lap, nor could you sleep in the same bed with me. You rejected me many times.”
“…” Zhuang Chi was starting to get confused about whose side Gu Ximian was taking. With the perspective shifting back and forth, Zhuang Chi was in the wrong no matter what she said. She couldn’t help but laugh and said directly, “If I hadn’t refused, I’m afraid you’d be the one who would have been truly unhappy, right?”
Caught off guard by her question, Gu Ximian stared at Zhuang Chi in silence for a long moment. Finally, following the awkward and complex emotions in her heart, she reached out, pulled Zhuang Chi a little closer, and gave her a light bite on the chin.
She knew Zhuang Chi was right. After all, the reason she had extended such invitations back then was that she saw Z as a creature of a different species, almost like a pet she was raising. Only after the truth came out did she realize how strange the things she had said back then were. Just imagining what Zhuang Chi must have been thinking at the time made Gu Ximian blush with shame. She was somewhat glad that Zhuang Chi hadn't agreed; otherwise, her feelings would probably be even more complicated.
So, Gu Ximian wasn't feeling awkward about that particular matter right now. Aside from certain subtle feelings like “being jealous of herself,” the most dominant thought in her mind was probably: Zhuang Chi, from then until now, always seemed more composed than her.
Today, she already felt a little resentful about this, and now that emotion was flaring up as if fuel had been added to a fire, finally—it began to burn faintly on the back of her neck. Gu Ximian sighed softly. She knew that her current jumble of thoughts was somewhat influenced by her susceptible period. Having the Alpha she wanted to be close to right beside her was indeed affecting the efficacy of her suppressants. The situation wasn't serious yet. She really should go home and get another shot of suppressant, which would probably solve this abnormality just fine, but…
There were other ways. Gu Ximian thought.
She grabbed Zhuang Chi's hand and dragged her unsuspecting Alpha into an empty classroom. Just like when she was a student, unused classrooms were left unlocked for students to use as study rooms. Gu Ximian had never used them back then, but it came in handy now. Even though she knew they were the only two people in the school, Gu Ximian still subconsciously closed the door before turning around and pushing Zhuang Chi down into a seat by the door.
“Zhuang Chi,”
Gu Ximian called out softly. She felt that what she was about to say was a bit too bold, and her face turned red before she even spoke. But seeing Zhuang Chi's dazed expression, she mustered her courage again. Without another word, she reached out, took off Zhuang Chi's slightly obstructive scarf, and set it aside. Then, she cupped Zhuang Chi's face, making her look up.
“My susceptible period… I’m a little uncomfortable.” The faint heat on the back of her neck fueled Gu Ximian's boldness. As expected, she saw panic in Zhuang Chi's eyes and finished her sentence in a small voice, “…I want a temporary mark.”
Wasn't this a little too sudden.
For Zhuang Chi, it was very sudden indeed. She stiffly raised her head to look at Gu Ximian, seeing in those beautiful, gradually moistening eyes that this was no joke. And an Alpha's instincts reacted very quickly to the words “temporary mark.” In an instant, Zhuang Chi felt the gland under her pheromone blocking collar heat up, shifting from a docile state to one of restless agitation.
…If she thought about it according to Lou Che's theory, then this couldn't be blamed on instinct. It was her own wicked thoughts.
Zhuang Chi swallowed uncomfortably. Pushing aside her distracting thoughts, she asked in a low voice, “…How… where are you uncomfortable?”
“I’m uncomfortable everywhere,” Gu Ximian said with great seriousness, squeezing her face tighter and kneading Zhuang Chi’s soft cheeks as if in a fit of pique. “You have to take responsibility.”
Her soft voice, tinged with a hint of petulance, threw Zhuang Chi's mind into disarray, but she still managed to propose what she thought was the most appropriate solution. “Sup-suppressants…”
“I didn’t bring any.”
Gu Ximian casually shattered her hopes and continued, “Even if we go home or go out to buy some, it will take a while. But I’m uncomfortable right now.”
Zhuang Chi was left speechless. The meaning behind Gu Ximian's words was self-evident. And she had clearly worn perfume today; now that they were so close, Zhuang Chi could faintly smell it and feel a hint of thirst, though she didn't know if it came from her throat or somewhere else. Fortunately, Gu Ximian's pheromone blocking collar was still working properly, so at least she couldn't smell any pheromones to complicate things. As Zhuang Chi hesitated, Gu Ximian grew impatient. Her delicate brows knitted together. “…You’re not willing?”
As she spoke, she started to pull back the hands cupping her face. Zhuang Chi's heart tightened, and she subconsciously raised a hand to grab her wrist, hastily explaining, “No, that’s not it. I’m worried… My control over my pheromones isn’t as good as it used to be.”
The external wound on her gland had healed, but the internal injury had not fully recovered. During the recent vacation, after returning home, Zhuang Chi had tried to start rehabilitation according to her doctor's instructions, but her progress wasn't fast. It was still difficult to release pheromones at the desired concentration, and the numbers on the pheromone concentration detector were often higher than she intended.
“This… is very dangerous, Gu Ximian,” Zhuang Chi said softly. “If I can’t control it well while giving a temporary mark, and the concentration of the injected pheromones is too high…”
That was the only fundamental difference between a temporary mark and a permanent mark.
She didn't continue, but the anxiety and apprehension in her eyes were enough for Gu Ximian to understand. But Gu Ximian just looked at her lightly, not showing the slightest bit of nervousness. Instead, she even chuckled softly and reached up to unfasten her own blocking collar.
“What are you afraid of,” Gu Ximian said softly. The choker around her neck unclasped with a click. She handed it to Zhuang Chi, then brushed aside the long hair on the side of her neck to expose her gland, looking at Zhuang Chi quietly. “If you really bite too hard, we’ll deal with it then.”
Gu Ximian was sometimes really bold.
Or rather, one could even say she was a bit reckless, Zhuang Chi thought. She herself was always being told, “What kind of Alpha is like this?” Now she wanted to say the same about Gu Ximian—what kind of Omega was like this? Taking a risk with a mark and saying things like “we'll deal with it then”…
If it really came to that, there would be nothing left to “deal with.” Zhuang Chi took a deep breath, holding Gu Ximian a little tighter. The air between her breaths was filled with a sweet, addictive scent. She thought vaguely that if an accident really happened, she would of course take responsibility—she was more than willing to take responsibility for Gu Ximian, but… but she really didn't want to betray Gu Ximian's trust, so…
By the time she realized it, she had already stood up and pulled Gu Ximian tightly into her arms. The small of Gu Ximian's back bumped against the edge of a desk, and she let out a soft grunt. Zhuang Chi tensed and quickly wrapped an arm around her to cushion the impact, asking softly, “Did that hurt?”
Gu Ximian shook her head silently, her voice slightly soft. “…Are we going to do this standing?”
“…Mm,” Zhuang Chi murmured in response. “Sitting down would be a little… too convenient.”
If she held Gu Ximian on her lap, it would be far too convenient for Zhuang Chi, whether for biting her or holding her tight.
Memories of past intimacy surfaced uncontrollably in her mind. Zhuang Chi shook her head forcefully. In the end, she still chose not to have Gu Ximian sit on her lap as she had before. She just stood ramrod straight and lowered her head toward the side of Gu Ximian's neck.
She had given a temporary mark once before. That was on the eve of her addiction to Gu Ximian, when she could still control her pheromones well. Unlike now, just being close made Zhuang Chi feel an unbearable thirst. The gland under her blocking collar was already swelling. If not for the collar, her pheromones would probably be spilling everywhere.
Zhuang Chi closed her eyes. She thought she had to make this quick, so she held her breath and moved closer.
But she had overlooked another difference from that time—she and Gu Ximian were now in a relationship. And she had already tasted Gu Ximian.
From the moment her lips touched Gu Ximian's gland, things started to get out of control. Zhuang Chi barely managed to stop herself from subconsciously biting down hard. It was as if her thoughts blanked out for a second. She could control her jaw, but not her lips and tongue. She tasted a clear sweetness, and only then did she realize her tongue was already pressed against Gu Ximian's gland, leaving a small, wet mark.
Immediately, she felt Gu Ximian's suppressed trembling. She was holding back from making a sound, which in turn stirred a certain wicked impulse deep in Zhuang Chi's heart, but it was forcefully suppressed a second later. She realized what impolite things she was thinking and, with great effort, pulled back slightly. Yet her eyes remained dazedly fixed on the spot she had just kissed. She called out in a low voice, “…Gu Ximian…”
She wanted to say that she really couldn't hold back, that this temporary mark was too dangerous and they should stop immediately. But Gu Ximian's sense of caution when facing her was far too poor. Not only did she not grasp her meaning, but she even pressed forward a little, as if uneasy, and said in a trembling voice, “…Aren’t you going to continue?”
Ah, Gu Ximian was really, truly… Zhuang Chi pressed her lips together tightly, unable to resist after all. She kissed her again, her lips and tongue clinging to that pale neck, sucking lightly on her delicate skin. Zhuang Chi tasted sweetness and grew greedy. She was dizzy, feeling that nothing could quench her thirst. She wanted to bite, but she instinctively couldn't bear to hurt Gu Ximian, so she only left a series of deep and shallow kisses, finally coaxing a soft gasp from Gu Ximian's throat that made her almost tremble.
No. Zhuang Chi thought hazily, if this goes on, I’ll really…
She opened her mouth and bit down.
There was probably no trial in this world more severe than this. For the first time in her life, Zhuang Chi truly understood what it meant to be caught in a dilemma. Her canines pierced shallowly into the gland, and the scent she perceived instantly exploded, far more fragrant than before. Zhuang Chi's remaining sanity was battered to the brink of collapse. She desperately restrained herself from biting down harder, while also diverting half her attention to calming down, carefully injecting her pheromones bit by bit, terrified of accidentally giving too much.
It should have been able to end just like that.
But Gu Ximian was restless. As Zhuang Chi injected her pheromones, her body stiffened slightly. She tilted her head back unbearably, her neck forming a beautiful arc, practically opening the floodgates with no defense at all. Zhuang Chi supported her weakened waist, feeling so tormented she was about to start chanting the Great Compassion Mantra. Just when she thought she was about to finish, trembling all the while, she was caught off guard when Gu Ximian suddenly raised a hand and loosely cupped the back of her head.
“…You can be—” Gu Ximian’s murmured voice sounded by her ear, impossibly soft, as if she were muttering unconsciously, “—a little rougher…”
Zhuang Chi froze, but her actions were faster than her thoughts. As if by reflex, she bit down harder, just as Gu Ximian had said.
She snapped her head up, her heart pounding in her chest as if it would burst out of her body. Zhuang Chi was flushed with heat, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. She dazedly closed her eyes, then looked at Gu Ximian, whose eyes were still a little hazy. After freezing for a long moment, she suddenly moved closer and kissed her lips deeply.
It was a kiss that was somewhat more chaotic than before. Zhuang Chi held Gu Ximian's slender body firmly in her arms, stubbornly chasing and sucking on the tip of her tongue, over and over, coaxing the kiss into a searing heat. Her palm unconsciously traced Gu Ximian's waistline, and where it touched, it was as if sparks flew, a momentary, numbing tingle.
After a long entanglement, Zhuang Chi tremblingly pulled away from Gu Ximian. It wasn't enough, really, but thankfully, her reason had regained the upper hand. She held her breath and looked at the side of Gu Ximian's neck. The patch of fair skin that had been thoroughly tasted was faintly red. Besides the visible teeth marks, there were also many marks of varying shades, as eye-catching as plum blossoms falling on snow.
Zhuang Chi didn't dare to look for long. She lowered her eyes, her voice a little hoarse when she spoke. “…I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”
Gu Ximian was still panting softly, her eyes misty. Hearing her words, she came back to her senses a little, raised a hand to touch the side of her neck, and said softly, as if to herself, “…It’s… a temporary mark.”
Having barely managed to control her pheromones at the critical moment, Zhuang Chi now felt, in retrospect, that she had unleashed her latent potential. It was so thrilling it could make one break out in a cold sweat. She let out a long breath. She had wanted to let go of Gu Ximian and stand a little farther away, but Gu Ximian seemed to have no strength. The moment she loosened her grip, it looked like her legs would give way, so Zhuang Chi had no choice but to hold her properly again and quickly press the blocking collar back into her hand.
“Gu Ximian, you…” Zhuang Chi had wanted to properly explain to Gu Ximian how dangerous that had been, thinking she really needed to know she couldn't just say things like that. But looking into Gu Ximian's moist, dark, and shining eyes, she couldn't bring herself to say anything critical. In the end, she just sighed softly. “…You should hurry and put it on.”
Gu Ximian had clearly regained her senses by now as well. Her face was pitifully red. She gave a soft “mm” and said no more, but when she put on the blocking collar, her fingers were still trembling and clumsy. It took her a moment to fasten it. She kept tugging at it, as if wanting to say something but holding back. She stole a glance at Zhuang Chi, and after a long while, she asked softly, “…After putting it on, does it… cover it?”
It was self-evident what “it” referred to. Zhuang Chi held her breath and looked over. After a few glances, she couldn't help but look away, then mustered her courage to look back a few more times. Her expression changed again and again, finally settling into a pained mask, her face beet red and unable to speak.
Damn it, it doesn't cover them! Zhuang Chi wailed sorrowfully in her heart. What on earth had she done just now… The teeth marks could barely be covered, but the other marks—in this weather, there was no way to pass them off as mosquito bites…
…When we go back later, Zhuang Chi thought, giving up all hope, I'll probably be summoned for a talk by Father Gu.
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