After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 14

Upon hearing the last sentence from Qi Musi, Xie Rong’s eyes snapped open, filled with astonishment.

“You…” She paused, swallowing the words that followed.

Qi Musi lowered her gaze to look at her, but she wasn’t satisfied with the fleeting emotion Xie Rong had shown. At this moment, she didn’t want to see Xie Rong so serene or calm.

She only wanted Xie Rong to be like herself… at least, to have her emotions fluctuate more because of her.

Otherwise, it would be too unfair, wouldn’t it? Why should she be troubled, anxious, and uncomfortable after learning who Xie Rong liked, while Xie Rong could quickly return to her indifferent self?

So, Qi Musi continued, “Things seem to be progressing well. I think it won’t be long before she and I become a couple. I hope… Teacher Xiaorong won’t mind. After all, when it comes to feelings, there’s no such thing as ‘first come, first served.'”

She looked at Xie Rong, deliberately smiling as she spoke.

Sure enough, the calm emotions in Xie Rong’s eyes surged again. She stared coldly at Qi Musi, looking like a cat gnashing its teeth frightening others from being scratched while simultaneously making them adore her “flailing” appearance.

Xie Rong’s face was cold: “Why are you telling me this?”

Qi Musi curved her lips, leaned closer to her, and intentionally released her pheromones. “Of course, I want to give you a heads-up. After all, we’re roommates, and it’s quite a coincidence to like the same Omega. Besides, I don’t want the matter of Xinbai to cause a rift between us later.”

“Similarly, it’s Xinbai’s freedom to choose who she likes. Teacher Xiaorong, you wouldn’t get angry at her because of this, would you?”

Qi Musi appeared calm and no different from usual, but in reality, she was completely unable to control her own emotions. She could only let her rational self be trapped deep within her brain, watching as her emotional self “talked nonsense.”

Because she knew she wouldn’t truly worry about such things, nor was she sincerely trying to resolve the so-called conflict of liking the same Omega.

She simply… wanted to use any means necessary to force Xie Rong’s emotions to fluctuate and become agitated because of her.

She truly was like… a scumbag Alpha.

Qi Musi evaluated herself in her heart.

Xie Rong bit her teeth, looking at Qi Musi who was close by, struggling to ignore the oppressive cherry pheromones. Then, she enunciated each word: “Naturally, I won’t.”

She wasn’t that petty. Who Zhuang Xinbai liked was her freedom.

Hearing this answer, Qi Musi couldn’t tell if she was happy or unhappy. She just lowered her eyes and smiled, her red lips curving upward. “It really is curious. Xiaorong actually likes Xinbai. Can I ask what you like about her?”

When she asked this question, Qi Musi seemed to smile carelessly, but only her inner self knew that she was tense and extremely focused on the answer.

Xie Rong frowned and looked coldly at Qi Musi, then, rarely, a curve appeared at the corner of her mouth a cold smile.

“Why should I tell you?”

Qi Musi looked at her, not surprised to receive this answer, but deep down… she was still a little unhappy.

She lowered her gaze and let out a soft laugh, her eye corners tilted up, faintly hinting at a seductive charm. “But I still really want to know the answer, don’t I?” She raised her eyes to look at Xie Rong, her dark eyes holding an unreal smile.

“If Teacher Xiaorong won’t say, then I might have to take some measures myself, you know?”

Xie Rong’s expression was icy; she simply stared at her.

Qi Musi felt like she was about to surrender under her gaze.

She realized that what she used to dislike the most had now become the weapon that constrained her the most.

However, she couldn’t give up yet. If she didn’t figure out this question, it would always be stuck in her heart.

As Qi Musi was thinking about what to do, the dormitory door suddenly opened with the sound of footsteps. It was so abrupt that it caught them off guard.

The two people on the chair simultaneously froze and looked towards the door.

Zhao Rongrong maintained the position of opening the door, staring wide-eyed, along with Mo Li, at the two people on the chair inside the dormitory.

Zhao Rongrong opened her mouth. “Ah, well, you, you, I… what are you two doing?” She finally stuttered out the question.

Mo Li, on the other hand, took a sniff and smelled two distinct, strong Alpha pheromones that were very familiar. Undoubtedly, they came from the two roommates in front of her.

Xie Rong’s body tensed, a hint of shame and annoyance flashing in her eyes. She didn’t want her roommates to see the current situation.

Or rather, Xie Rong hated the trouble this situation brought.

Before she could think of a solution, Qi Musi was one step ahead. She let go of Xie Rong’s wrist, smiled, and acted as if nothing had happened: “You’re back?”

Zhao Rongrong was at a loss because of her natural attitude and could only nod blankly: “Ah, yes.” Then, she slowly closed the dorm room door.

Qi Musi calmly rose from Xie Rong’s lap, greeted both of them, and chatted casually for a couple of minutes, acting as if nothing had just occurred and offering no explanation.

Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li truly couldn’t figure out the situation and could only follow Qi Musi’s conversational lead. As they chatted more, they inexplicably dropped the subject of the previous inquiry.

Seeing that they were no longer focusing on her, Xie Rong relaxed her shoulders, closed her eyes, sighed in relief, and then stood up to go to the washroom.

…But not caring or gossiping was only temporary. Xie Rong’s “authority” in the dorm was too great, and Zhao Rongrong didn’t dare to make trouble easily. Therefore, after Xie Rong went inside, her original conversation with Qi Musi abruptly stopped.

Between Xie Rong and Qi Musi, Zhao Rongrong would definitely choose Qi Musi as the easier person to get along with, so she moved closer and began whispering.

“Musi, what exactly were you doing with Xiaorong just now? Why does it feel like…”

She originally wanted to say that the atmosphere between the two was tense, but before the word left her mouth, she silently paused.

In that situation just now, in that atmosphere, was “tense” more suitable, or was “sparking” more appropriate…

Zhao Rongrong was confused; she realized that even as an Alpha, she didn’t understand Alphas at all.

Qi Musi maintained her usual smile, her eyes curved as she smilingly asked back, “Hmm?”

Zhao Rongrong stopped for some reason, she couldn’t ask the original question.

Mo Li sighed and pulled her away.

Ultimately, this was the private matter of Qi Musi and Xie Rong. If it wasn’t a major issue, they, as outsiders, shouldn’t get involved.

Seeing Zhao Rongrong fall silent, Qi Musi said no more. She crossed her arms and leaned back again.

On the other side, Xie Rong didn’t do anything after going inside. She was merely seizing the opportunity to escape the previous environment.

She turned on the faucet, letting the cool water wash over her fingers, then closed her eyes for a moment.

Xie Rong wasn’t particularly bothered that her crush on Zhuang Xinbai had been exposed. The only thing… was that she was afraid this would cause Zhuang Xinbai to distance herself and prevent them from even being friends.

As for Qi Musi’s various probing questions and her claim that Zhuang Xinbai would choose her, Xie Rong wasn’t concerned.

It wasn’t that she genuinely didn’t care or wasn’t concerned, it was just…

Who Zhuang Xinbai liked was her freedom. Xie Rong was just a secret admirer.

Before loving Zhuang Xinbai, she was, first and foremost, her friend. If her friend found an Alpha she liked, she would offer her blessings.

Xie Rong reopened her eyes, her expression faint.

Her appearance was as delicate and translucent as water, lacking aggression. Although her personality was sometimes intimidating and could lead to misunderstandings, Xie Rong was not actually a person who was obsessively demanding.

Her thoughts, or rather her wishes, had always been simple.

To find someone she loved and spend her life with them, just like her parents. That was enough.

However, before that…

Xie Rong looked down at her fingers in the stream of water. If she could, she still wanted to try and fight for it.

Following the earlier interrogation incident, the atmosphere between Xie Rong and Qi Musi noticeably cooled down. Or rather, it was Xie Rong who was unilaterally cold, while Qi Musi remained the same, acting as if Xie Rong’s neglect was nothing to worry about.

Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li saw this but didn’t dare to intervene.

Firstly, the situation wasn’t that serious and might ease up in ten days or half a month. Secondly, they didn’t understand the situation and couldn’t rashly interfere.

So, the two of them could only act as atmosphere buffers and peacemakers on a daily basis. They managed to get along without major incidents for a week. Soon, it was time for the second physical education class.

Last time was practicing bumps this time, the lesson moved on to practicing serves.

Although serving didn’t require practicing in pairs, people who got along naturally grouped together. Qi Musi took a volleyball and naturally went to find Xie Rong.

A relaxed smile played on her lips, looking as if she hadn’t taken their current disagreement to heart at all.

Zhao Rongrong was terrified as she watched and couldn’t help but say to Mo Li next to her, “Do you think we should go break up a fight later?”

Mo Li retorted, “Do you think Xiaorong is the type to fight?”

“…”

Zhao Rongrong pondered for a moment. “It doesn’t seem like it, no.”

For some reason, the originally cold faced and aloof Xie Rong felt more like a well-behaved girl in Zhao Rongrong’s mind, while the always warm and smiling Qi Musi felt more dangerous to Zhao Rongrong.

It truly was a strange misconception.

When Qi Musi arrived, Xie Rong was practicing against the wire fence. When the ball hit the net, bounced back, and rolled on the ground, before Xie Rong could step forward to pick it up, someone else had already grabbed it.

Xie Rong stopped, looked down at her, then extended her hand. She didn’t speak, but her intention was clear.

Qi Musi instead pulled the ball back and smiled sweetly, “Teacher Xiaorong, you should say something when asking someone for something, right?”

Xie Rong looked up, the emotion in her eyes was undoubtedly cold, then she spoke, “Did I ask you to take it?”

Qi Musi wasn’t offended instead, she let out a light laugh.

“Are you still angry, Xiaorong?”

Xie Rong withdrew her gaze and ignored her again.

Qi Musi took a step towards her, the corners of her eyes curving, her smile warm and gentle. “Talk to me.”

In truth, she wasn’t all that angry. Xie Rong was just temporarily reluctant to deal with Qi Musi. Now that Qi Musi had directly sought her out, it was hard for her to continue giving the cold shoulder.

Although Xie Rong got angry, she also calmed down quickly.

After all, what Qi Musi did back then, while excessive, didn’t fully cross Xie Rong’s bottom line.

So, Xie Rong glanced at her sideways, “Talk to you, and then what?”