After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 12

Qi Musi wasn’t very surprised that her purpose had been guessed. After all, Lu Yuan’s actions had been quite obvious. The other party probably guessed it when she suggested looking at the cat dormitory, otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought them in to look directly.

Therefore, she just smiled and naturally took up the topic: “That’s right, I’m very satisfied.”

“So, are you going to invest?”

“Of course.” Qi Musi didn’t hesitate or stall on this matter. She originally had the intention to help; the only reason she didn’t agree directly at first was because she was worried that the owner here was a profiteer, using stray cats to make money but not taking care of them.

Now that she’s checked and found that the other party genuinely loves the cats, it’s perfectly fine for her to put in some spare money.

Firstly, Qi Musi liked these small animals because of her mother. Secondly, she came with Zhuang Xinbai. Seeing the other person worrying about the animals and the store’s operating situation, it was easy for her to lend a helping hand within her means.

Hearing Qi Musi agree without hesitation, the challenging look on Lu Yuan’s face eased significantly, and he became much gentler. “Alright, just symbolically buy a few bags of cat food then.”

He probably took her for a student with a heart of gold who wanted to help stray cats.

Qi Musi chuckled softly: “It’s fine. Since I said I’d help, I won’t just help with a few bags of cat food. I’ll add you, and we can talk later.”

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes, but quickly relaxed. “Okay.”

Of course, Qi Musi had no other intentions. Setting aside the fact that she was currently pursuing Zhuang Xinbai, just looking at the environment here, she didn’t think of any other inappropriate direction.

At this moment, Qi Musi was thinking… this place is a gathering spot for so many cats. If she were to drag Xie Rong here, she wondered what the other party, with her aura of coldness, would do, and how she would handle the situation of being surrounded by cats.

Ah, of course, it was also possible that all the cats would be scared away by her cold demeanor.

Thinking of that scene, the smile on Qi Musi’s lips deepened, and she felt a sense of anticipation in her heart.

When she returned this time, she must find an opportunity to bring Xie Rong over.

After viewing the cats’ environment, Qi Musi and Zhuang Xinbai stepped outside, preparing to order some desserts.

She lowered her eyes and handed over the menu. “You choose something. My treat.”

“…”

Zhuang Xinbai bit her lip, unable to describe the feelings in her heart.

To be honest, she was indeed somewhat moved by Qi Musi, but there was always some inexplicable intuition hindering her, making Zhuang Xinbai feel that she couldn’t just rush into it…

But she couldn’t pinpoint what that intuition was, so she could only stay put.

To be honest, she was already feeling a bit guilty about Qi Musi’s pursuit and affection.

When faced with someone’s pursuit, one should either refuse or accept this was the education Zhuang Xinbai had always received, but the current situation had exceeded her capacity.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Xinbai bit her lip and couldn’t help but ask again: “Musi, do you… really like me?”

Qi Musi paused, a smile playing on her lips. “Why do you ask that? I remember I answered you, Xinbai.” She stopped for a moment, and then replied: “Of course, I like you. That’s beyond doubt.”

Zhuang Xinbai lowered her head. “But I always feel… your liking… is not the kind I think it is.”

She finally plucked up the courage to express her concerns and thoughts. “I always feel that you outwardly appear to like me, but deep down, you don’t think that way. Deep down, you have someone you genuinely like, and that person is not me.”

Qi Musi was slightly stunned, frozen in place.

Zhuang Xinbai’s words made her stop, or rather, shocked her. Qi Musi had never thought that the other party would think this way.

But at that moment, she didn’t feel like crying or laughing; instead, she felt an inexplicable stuffiness and panic in her chest.

Qi Musi pursed her lips, frowned, and put down the menu. After a long while, she said: “No, I only… like you.”

After saying this, the rest of her words flowed more smoothly.

“I don’t like anyone else. Currently, I’ve only liked one person, and that person is you. And the reason I like you, I’ve also told you.”

Qi Musi’s voice was slow, carrying a gentle warmth.

Zhuang Xinbai lowered her head and finally nodded. “Let me think about it more.” She needed time to overcome this hurdle in her heart.

Afterward, Zhuang Xinbai felt a bit apologetic. “Sorry, am I being too indecisive and cowardly?”

Qi Musi looked at her and smiled, her peach blossom eyes full of gentle affection. “How could that be? As an Omega, it’s natural for you to be cautious in these matters.”

While they were eating, Qi Musi remembered the person Xie Rong had mentioned she had a crush on, so she couldn’t resist inquiring of Zhuang Xinbai: “Speaking of which, in your major, is there…”

Qi Musi paused, and in that instant, she felt that it was inappropriate for her to inquire this way. She didn’t know why she was asking, and she didn’t dare to think deeply about it herself.

Logically speaking, whoever Xie Rong liked had nothing to do with her. But Qi Musi couldn’t help but think that she was just curious as a roommate, and even for the sake of pretense, she had to appear like a normal person who cared about her roommate, plus they could have a topic to communicate about in the future.

So… there was nothing wrong with it.

Qi Musi adjusted her emotions and continued to ask, feigning indifference, like a normal person curious about their roommate’s gossip.

“Is there any Omega who is famous for being gentle?”

Zhuang Xinbai looked up in confusion. “Hmm? Why are you asking about that?”

Qi Musi curved her lips, making her smile look a little mischievous. “Of course, because of my roommate. I have a rather cold tempered roommate. I originally thought she was the kind of Alpha who would never fall in love, but I recently learned from her that she has someone she likes, and it’s someone from your major.”

Zhuang Xinbai: “So, the person she likes is a gentle Omega?”

Qi Musi nodded.

Zhuang Xinbai frowned and thought hard. “In our major, there are Omegas who are gentle, but I’m not sure which one your roommate likes. And if you’re talking about someone especially famous for being gentle, I really can’t think of one.”

Qi Musi slightly furrowed her brow, then smoothed it out. “I see.”

Zhuang Xinbai: “Why don’t you ask her directly?”

Qi Musi shook her head. “She won’t tell me.”

Zhuang Xinbai looked troubled. “Then I don’t know either.”

Qi Musi then settled her mind. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. How could this be your fault?”

When the two of them left the cafe, Lu Yuan specifically waved goodbye to them. “Come again next time.”

Qi Musi thought of her plan to bring Xie Rong to see the place, and her smile held a hint of genuine excitement. “Definitely.”

As they walked on the road, Zhuang Xinbai grew a little curious about the cold roommate Qi Musi mentioned. “Do you and your cold roommate get along well?”

Hearing this question, Qi Musi’s lips were already curved into a smile before she answered.

“Getting along…” She recalled Xie Rong’s cold yet delicate face, and those few times she changed expressions. Far from feeling neglected or bothered by her tantrums, her heart felt ticklish, like being brushed by a cat’s tail.

She let out a soft laugh. “I think we get along very well.”

When talking about Xie Rong, Qi Musi found herself unable to hold back her words.

“She looks very cold tempered, but I think she’s not like that on the inside.”

“If you accidentally provoke her, she’s like a flustered cat, both cute and arrogant, which makes your heart melt.”

“And she’s also very beautiful. As an Alpha, her looks are undoubtedly the most beautiful.”

“Her pheromone scent is also…”

Qi Musi stopped speaking at this point, her expression suddenly blank for a moment, followed by a slight, delayed shock.

Zhuang Xinbai was still listening. “Hmm? What about her pheromone scent?”

Qi Musi snapped back to reality, concealing her unusual feelings, and smiled naturally, but her heart was restless for a long time.

“Her pheromone scent is also very nice.”

Qi Musi pinched her palm. At this moment, she suddenly felt a sense of panic.

Had she really said so much just now? She didn’t sound like herself… at all.

Qi Musi would compliment people, regardless of their personality, but if the other person was an Alpha, she would absolutely not compliment their pheromones casually. Especially since Qi Musi knew that her compliment just now was not a casual flattery, but a subconscious, genuine feeling that had slipped out.

She actually thought Xie Rong’s pheromone scent was pleasant.

Qi Musi couldn’t help but close her eyes, feeling like she must have gone mad.

She clearly couldn’t stand the faint sweet scent of pear blossoms when they first met. But now, she found that she was already beginning to miss it a little.

Was she insane?

Xie Rong was an Alpha.

Zhuang Xinbai didn’t notice Qi Musi’s abnormality, merely laughing lightly. “In that case, I have a friend who is also like that.”

“She has very delicate features, almost unlike an Alpha, and her personality is also very cold, but in fact, she’s very gentle in her conduct.”

Qi Musi withdrew her thoughts, and her brows moved slightly. “This friend of yours…”

Zhuang Xinbai looked up. “Yes?”

Qi Musi: “Who is she?”

Zhuang Xinbai suddenly realized. “Ah, speaking of which, she’s also in your major. Could it be… her name is Xie Rong, the ‘Rong’ from ‘fluffy’.”

Qi Musi felt a reverberation echo in her heart.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she couldn’t help but repeat: “Xie Rong.”

Zhuang Xinbai nodded.

Qi Musi’s smile was still the same as before. She felt something indescribable… perhaps surprise, and a sense of losing control.

“I never thought. So, we’re talking about the same person.”

Zhuang Xinbai also smiled. “Sure enough, I felt familiar when I heard your description. So, you and Xiao Rong are roommates.”

Xiao Rong (Little Rong).

Hearing this nickname, Qi Musi’s brow couldn’t help but twitch, and then she controlled her emotions.

It was normal for others to use this nickname; after all, if they were friends, it wasn’t inappropriate to call her that.

But even so, Qi Musi still felt a little uncomfortable.

Then, Qi Musi seemed to remember something and stopped walking.

Zhuang Xinbai looked at her in confusion.

Qi Musi pinched her palm and narrowed her eyes slightly. She seemed to have thought of something, as if about to pull back the veil of something, carrying a probing and careful heaviness, and then slowly asked: “You said you know Xie Rong. Did you grow up together?”

Zhuang Xinbai’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”

Qi Musi looked at her, and in that instant, she felt a sudden tremor in her heart.

Zhuang Xinbai said: “Xiao Rong and I are neighbors, so we’ve been classmates since elementary school, and then we both applied to A University together. It’s really quite a coincidence.”

Qi Musi parted her lips, staring at the person’s face in front of her, but at that moment, she didn’t know what to say.

She remembered what Xie Rong had once said… “Perhaps because we grew up together, and were in the same school from elementary to high school, she feels more like family to me.”

So.

The person Xie Rong liked, the person she had a secret, unrequited love for, was none other than Zhuang Xinbai.