After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 1

Along the tree lined avenue on campus, a bright figure slowly walked by, pulling a suitcase.

The collar of her light colored shirt was slightly open, perfectly revealing her delicate collarbone. The cuffs were tightly buttoned, with only half of her wrist bone exposed inadvertently, looking bright white.

Below her medium length dark skirt were fair, slender calves, which were bony, straight, and well-proportioned her ankles were slim, yet looked refined.

Her black, long hair cascaded down like splashed ink, spreading across her back. It looked incredibly smooth, making one want to reach out and touch it, possessing an almost ethereal, cold beauty.

Other passing students couldn’t help but look over, a hint of admiration in their eyes. Those walking in pairs couldn’t resist whispering.

“Is that… an Alpha?”

“Although the pheromone is so faint it’s almost undetectable, and she’s very beautiful, I think! It’s definitely an Alpha.”

“Wuwu, she’s so pretty, I want to go ask for her contact info.”

“Go for it, girl! I’m supporting you from behind.”

The short haired girl seemed encouraged. She looked at her companion, hesitant: “Should I go?”

“Go! What if you succeed?”

So, the short haired girl took a deep breath and quickly walked over.

“H-hi, classmate”

The girl pulling the suitcase stopped. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her dark, beautiful eyes, like stars hidden beneath, looked over. Her eyebrows were delicate like willow leaves, her red lips were slightly pursed, and her phoenix eyes held a distant emotion. Her expression was cool and aloof, possessing an almost otherworldly aura.

The short haired girl was stunned when the other girl faced her directly. The courage she had finally gathered almost dissipated.

Xie Rong looked at the girl in front of her. When the girl remained silent, Xie Rong felt confused and then asked, “Yes?”

Her voice was clear and slightly cool, like jade beads.

Wuwu, even her voice is beautiful.

The short haired girl clenched her hands to encourage herself. She swallowed: “I… I wanted to ask for your contact information…”

As soon as she said this, Xie Rong understood her intention.

Xie Rong lowered her gaze and did not give the other party a tactful answer, but instead said directly: “I’m sorry.”

The short-haired girl was momentarily stunned, realizing she had been rejected. Although she didn’t think she would necessarily succeed, hearing the apology still made her feel very bad.

“Is… is it because I’m a Beta?”

That’s right, the short haired girl in front of her was the most ordinary and least valued Beta in this society. Even her appearance was not as beautiful and refined as the Alpha before her. No wonder the other party wanted to refuse.

Seeing the girl in front of her becoming visibly dejected, Xie Rong paused. “No.”

She hadn’t even initially paid attention to the other person’s secondary gender.

Although Xie Rong’s voice was cool, her tone was slow, softening the rigid feeling. “It’s just that I don’t have any thoughts of dating yet.”

The girl’s mood miraculously recovered with Xie Rong’s tone. She let out a sigh of relief and no longer felt the initial sadness.

“Alright.” She smiled. “Then I apologize for bothering you.”

After saying goodbye to the girl, Xie Rong withdrew her gaze.

As a beautiful Alpha, it was not uncommon to be approached or confessed to by people of other genders. However, Xie Rong had never accepted anyone’s pursuit since childhood.

It wasn’t because she was picky or had high standards, but simply…

She initially refused because she didn’t have the inclination. Later, it was because she already had someone she secretly admired.

Xie Rong composed her emotions and continued walking toward the dormitory building.

More than a month had passed since the start of the school year. As it entered October, the weather was no longer so hot and had turned mild and cool.

During the National Day holiday, most students chose to go home for the festivities, and Xie Rong was no exception.

During the seven day holiday, she received care and concern from her parents at home, as it was her first time going away to college, and her family’s worry was understandable.

Fortunately, although she was a little unaccustomed to it at first, she gradually adapted to everything.

After the holiday ended, Xie Rong was the first to return to the dorm room. After taking out her key and opening the door, she paused slightly. Xie Rong’s gaze swept over the room. She closed the door and put down her suitcase.

It was clear that someone had arrived in the dorm before her, and it was obviously the rumored… fourth person.

The dorm had undergone a slight change, with some new decorations, clothes, books, and daily necessities. And the bed connected to hers, the one that had been empty, now had some bedding on it.

Xie Rong’s dorm was an Alpha dorm, originally a quad room, but the fourth person had not appeared since the day of registration.

At first, the roommates thought someone had temporarily withdrawn, but when they asked the dorm supervisor, they learned that it wasn’t a withdrawal; the fourth person simply hadn’t arrived.

But as for why she hadn’t come and when she would arrive, no one knew. They didn’t even know who the fourth person was.

Regarding this mysterious fourth person, the roommates had discussed it, but to no avail. They didn’t feel comfortable specifically asking in the class group if anyone hadn’t arrived at the dorm, so the speculation about the fourth person was dropped.

They would only occasionally muse that Room 408 was pretty good; for the same price, they could enjoy an extra 1/4 of the space.

But now…

It seemed the fourth person had arrived.

Xie Rong returned to her desk and did not pay any extra attention to the fourth person’s situation, only informing the other two in the dorm group chat.

As expected, the other two barraged Xie Rong with questions upon learning that a newcomer would be moving in. However, these were questions Xie Rong couldn’t answer, so they could only “sigh with regret.”

Xie Rong closed her phone and began tidying up her desk, then glanced to the side.

The fourth person’s desk was next to hers, separated by the bed ladder. It was already set up with some supplies and a computer. She was quite bold, not afraid of someone stealing it.

Xie Rong retracted her gaze after a quick look. It was already afternoon, and time for dinner. Xie Rong hadn’t been able to eat on her way, so she was preparing to go to the canteen.

Just as she picked up her phone and keys, preparing to leave, the dorm door was pushed open, and another person entered.

Xie Rong looked back and saw the mysterious fourth person. The person also happened to look over.

Undoubtedly, she had a stunningly beautiful face, alluring red lips, gentle and charming. She was very attractive. Some of her slightly wavy hair hung behind her, and some fell in front of her chest. Her skin was fair, and she looked exceptionally graceful.

She was wearing a dress that perfectly showcased her shapely figure her fingertips were painted with dark red nail polish, which made her fingers look even fairer.

A slightly sweet cherry scent, mixed with a faint, intoxicating hint of sweet wine, unknowingly filled the air.

But Xie Rong quickly realized that this was the distinctive, unrestrained scent of the other person’s pheromones.

She frowned, and a feeling of alertness and dislike instinctively arose in her heart.

This did not mean she disliked the newcomer. It was just that… no Alpha could have a gentle and mild reaction when faced with the intense pheromone scent released by another Alpha.

This was an unchangeable characteristic deeply rooted in the Alpha personality, their inherent trait.

Similarly, it was this very reason that led to Alphas being more prone to conflict.

Xie Rong calmed her emotions and quietly observed the newly arrived Alpha.

The other person was clearly appraising Xie Rong as well, her red lips curved into a slight smile. She casually closed the door and walked in, greeting her with a smile: “Hello, I’m the person who just moved in today, Qi Musi.”

Xie Rong also nodded faintly: “Xie Rong.”

Qi Musi raised an eyebrow, feigning realization, “You’re the department beauty?”

Hearing this title, Xie Rong frowned slightly and did not acknowledge it.

Seeing her reaction, Qi Musi’s smile widened. “Just kidding. It seems you don’t like that title?”

Xie Rong paused slightly: “I just find it unnecessary.”

“Oh~” Qi Musi replied, but she formed a judgment about her in her mind.

A rather boring wooden beauty. Her lips still held a pleasant, alluring smile, but her internal assessment was utterly unsparing.

The first meeting between the two left them with a mediocre impression of each other.

Although Xie Rong had met the newcomer, she had no intention of bonding with her. Firstly, her personality was naturally reserved, and secondly… Xie Rong felt that she probably wouldn’t get along well with someone like Qi Musi. Thus, there was no need to force a friendship.

So, she picked up her keys and phone, and gave a courteous heads up before leaving. “I’m going out first.”

Qi Musi nodded, a smile on her face: “Okay, go and return early.”

“…”

Xie Rong didn’t know how to respond to that, so she just nodded and left.

Qi Musi watched Xie Rong’s retreating figure before withdrawing her gaze. The originally smiling ‘peach blossom’ eyes lost their superficial emotion the moment no one was watching.

Though pretty, she was still an Alpha, and a boring wooden beauty with an unappealing personality, so Qi Musi naturally wasn’t interested.

In contrast, the Omega she had encountered a few days ago was more to her liking.

Thinking of this, Qi Musi curved her lips, took out her phone, and tapped on the other person’s name again, resuming their last conversation.

Xie Rong usually chose to bring her meal back to the dorm. This was her habit, as she always felt a little uncomfortable eating at the canteen tables, even if the surface looked very clean.

But today, because of Qi Musi’s arrival, Xie Rong felt hesitant.

After careful consideration, she chose to eat in the canteen.

So, Xie Rong took out a tissue and wiped the table three times, which finally eased the discomfort in her heart.

While eating, she remembered her roommates who were concerned about the fourth person in the group chat. After thinking for a moment, Xie Rong drafted a message and sent it to the group. A barrage of questions from the other two immediately followed.

Their main concern was what the newcomer was like, how she looked, and if she was easy to get along with.

After recalling Qi Musi in her mind, Xie Rong replied: [She’s very pretty. Her personality…]

She paused, then wrote: [She’s alright.]